NOVELTY - A lithium ion battery (100) comprises a separator (106) between positive electrode (104) and negative electrode (102), and an electrolyte comprising lithium ions. The negative electrode comprises foamed current collector (108, 110) impregnated with active material containing metal alloy/intermetallic material, and porous carbon particles having Brunauer-Emrnett-Teller (BET) surface area of at least 250 (preferably 255-3500) m2/g; and lacks a foil current collector or a grid current collector separate from the foamed collector. The negative electrode further comprises polymer binder.    USE - As a lithium ion battery (claimed) which is used in consumer electronics industry such as in mobile communication devices (including phones), mobile entertainment devices (including MP3 players and televisions) and portable computers, as well as transportation devices, such as automobiles and fork lifts.    ADVANTAGE - The negative electrode have a desirable high energy density due to the chemical properties of the metal and/or metal alloy/intermetallic active materials. Due to the ability to absorb the volume changes of the active materials, the negative electrodes have improved cycling properties. The metal alloy/intermetallic composition having an average particle size of no more than a micron is advantageously used in the negative electrodes, thus improves cycling properties.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a powder comprising amorphous metal alloy/intermetallic particles where the particles have an average particle size of not greater than 1 micron;    (2) forming a metal alloy/intermetallic composition having a reduced degree of crystallinity, involving milling amorphous elemental powders to form the alloy/intermetallic composition comprising tin;    (3) forming a submicron carbon-metal alloy/intermetallic composite, involving milling a blend of metal particles and submicron carbon materials; and    (4) a collection of composite particles comprising a metal alloy/intermetallic coated onto carbon particles where the carbon particles have a submicron particle size and the composite particles comprise at least 65 wt.% metal alloy/intermetallic.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic view of a pouch cell battery.    Pouch cell battery (100)    Negative electrode (102)    Positive electrode (104)    Separator (106)    Current collectors (108, 110)    Laminated film casing (112)