TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Method: Forming material further comprises pyrolyzing the hybrid material, such that a nanocomposite material comprising nanoparticles embedded in a carbon matrix is formed, the nanoparticles being formed from the metal component of the one or more metal precursor compounds. The method further comprises reducing the metal oxide nanoparticles of the nanocomposite material comprising metal oxide nanoparticles embedded in a carbon matrix by contacting the nanocomposite material with a reductant or heating the nanocomposite material under inert conditions, such that a nanocomposite material comprising metal nanoparticles embedded in a carbon matrix is formed. It comprises contacting the nanocomposite material comprising metal oxide nanoparticles embedded in a carbon matrix with a sulfur compound, halide compound, or phosphate compound, such that a nanocomposite material comprising metal sulfide, metal halide, or metal phosphate nanoparticles embedded in a carbon matrix is formed. It comprises reducing the metal sulfide nanoparticles of the nanocomposite material comprising metal sulfide nanoparticles embedded nanocomposite material under inert conditions, such that a nanocomposite material comprising metal nanoparticles embedded in a carbon matrix is formed; and contacting the nanocomposite material comprising metal sulfide nanoparticles embedded in a carbon matrix with an oxygen compound, halide compound, or phosphate compound, such that a nanocomposite material comprising metal oxide, metal halide, or metal phosphate nanoparticles embedded in a carbon matrix is formed. Preferred Components: The reaction mixture comprises a first monomer, optionally, a second monomer, where the second monomer is a cross-linking monomer, a metal precursor compound, an initiator, an anionic surfactant, water, and one or more organic solvents, such that a reaction mixture that is an aqueous emulsion is formed. It comprises a first monomer, optionally, a second monomer, metal precursor compound. It comprises metal precursors, where the metal precursors have a different metal. One or more monomers are selected from acrylonitrile, divinyl benzene, resorcinol, formaldehyde, vinylpyrrolidone, vinyl alcohol, acrylic acid, phenol, 1,4-butadiene, isoprene, vinylsilane, sulfur, and its combinations. One or more metal precursor compounds are selected from metal carboxylates, metal coordination compounds, and its combinations. The metal precursor compounds are selected from metal carboxylates, metal coordination compounds, and its combinations. The polymer is poly(acrylonitrile), polyvinylpyrroilidone, polysaccharide, acrylonitrile-divinylbenzene copolymer, phenol resin, or resorcinol-formaldehyde copolymer. Preferred Device: The device is a battery or an on-chip inductor.