NOVELTY - Electrode material comprising a nanocomposite containing a open porous material, which comprises homogeneously distributed nanoparticulate electronically active material and nanoparticulate electronically conductive binder material, with the average particle sizes of the nanoparticles of the electronically active material and the average particle sizes of the nanoparticulate electronically conductive binder material both differing by a factor of no more than 2 and/or 5-500 nm, is claimed.    USE - The electrode material is useful in positive or negative electrodes of rechargeable lithium batteries. The nanoparticulate electrically conductive binder is useful for manufacturing electrodes, preferably cathodes for rechargeable lithium batteries (all claimed), which are useful in portable electronic equipment e.g. telephones, computers, video equipment and vehicles e.g. electric bicycles and cars.    ADVANTAGE - The lithium batteries: exhibit lower or no polarization during cycling; has good electrochemical response/high discharge capacity; and is environmentally-compatible.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) producing nanoparticulate conductive binder comprising preparing a reverse microemulsion comprising in the emulsified particle an oxidant and a particle forming substance, in particular iron(III) chloride and bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate;    (2) producing a nanocomposite comprising nanoparticulate electronically active material and nanoparticulate conductive binder comprising intimately mixing the nanoparticulate electrically conducting binder and the nanoparticulate electronically active material and subjecting the mixture to pressure and heat, preferably a pressure of 0.5-2 bar or 5-104 to 2-105 Pa, and room temperature;    (3) producing nanoparticulate electronically active material comprising solvothermally treating aqueous solutions of precursor salts under pressure; and    (4) coating nanoparticulate electronically active material comprising dispersing electronically active material in a sugar solution and thermally decomposing the sugar to form a carbon and/or graphite coating.