Hi Steve,
Lithium Polymers are lithium-ion batteries.
There are a variety of electrode compositions but these just get better every year it seems.
There are Lithium-Iron-Phosphate batteries (A123) that don't explode and work quite well. You take a substantial hit in weight but they are good. Just ask Igor. They are not available in the desired wide variety of sizes yet.
Lithium is mined, and the places where it is most plentiful can expect the same treatment as oil-rich regions get now. Give it 10 years. Oooops ... I never said that.

Dean