TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The two electrodes each further comprise an electrically conductive diluent, and binder.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preparation (disclosed): The compound (I) is synthesized by reacting A-containing compound(s), M-containing compound(s), SO4-containing compound(s), and Z-containing compound(s) at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the desired product. Preferred Components: The electrically conductive diluent is carbon or carbon black. The insertion active material is metal oxide, metal chalcogenide, carbon, and/or graphite (preferably). The electrolyte comprises lithium salt and solvent consisting of dimethyl carbonate, diethylcarbonate, dipropylcarbonate, ethylmethylcarbonate, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, lactones, esters, glymes, sulfoxides, and/or sulfolanes.Preferred Composition: The first electrode comprises 5-30 wt.% carbon black. It comprises 3-20 wt.% binder. The electrolyte comprises 5-65 wt.%, preferably 8-35 wt.%, lithium salt.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The binder is a copolymer of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVdF) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP). Preferred Definitions:    A=Li, K, and/or Na;    M=Ti2+, V2+, Cr2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Mo2+, Si2+, Sn2+, and Pb2+;    M=Ti3+, V3+, Cr3+, Mn3+, Fe3+, Co3+, Ni3+, Mo3+, and Nb3+;    M=MInMIIo;    o=greater than 0-4;    o, n=greater than 0;    (Mk#7) MI and MII=redox and non-redox active elements, at least one of MI and MII is redox active;    MI and MII=redox active;    MI=substituted by MII by isocharge substitution;    M=MIn-pMIIo;    o=p;    MI=Ti2+, V2+, Cr2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Mo2+, Si2+, Sn2+, and/or Pb2+;    MII=Be2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and/or Ge2+;    MI=Ti2+, V2+, Cr2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Mo2+, Si2+, Sn2+, and/or Pb2+;    MII=Be2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and/or Ba2+;    MI=Ti2+, V2+, Cr2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Mo2+, Si2+, Sn2+, and/or Pb2+;    MII=Zn2+, and/or Cd2+;    MI=Ti3+, V3+, Cr3+, Mn3+, Fe3+, Co3+, Ni3+, Mo3+, and/or Nb3+;    MII=Sc3+, Y3+, B3+, Al3+, Ga3+, and/or In3+;    MI=substituted by MII by aliovalent substitution;    M=MIn-oMIIo;    M=M1qM2rM3s;    M1=redox active element with a 2+ oxidation state;    M2=redox and non-redox active elements with a 1+ oxidation state;    M3= redox and non-redox active elements with a 3+ oxidation state;    q, r and/or s=greater than 0, and at least one of M1, M2, and M3 is redox active;    q=q-(r+s);    c=1;    c=3; and    (MK#29 Z = OH.    EXAMPLE - An electrode active material, LiNiSO4F was made by mixing nickel sulfate (NiSO4) (2.57 g), and lithium fluoride (LiF) (0.43 g). The particle mixture was pelletized. The pelletized mixture was heated, preferably in a flowing inert atmosphere (e.g. argon), until a product formed. The sample was cooled. A first sample synthesized by 12-hour dwell time ramped at 2degreesC/minute to 600degreesC yielded a soft yellow/green/white pellet with inconsistent uniformity. A second sample synthesized by 30-minute dwell time at 600degreesC in air yielded a hard yellow pellet with good uniformity.