TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Composition: The battery composition further comprises: an interlayer separating the anode portion of solid electrolyte and a cathode portion of solid electrolyte, where the inter-layer mechanically and ionically couples the solid electrolyte portions; and an electrically-conductive matrix disposed throughout the solid electrolyte, whereby additional ion storage in the solid electrolyte is facilitated in proximity of the electrically-conductive matrix. Preferred Components: Each of the active material particles comprises a shell at least partially encasing the active material and the internal pores, where the shell is substantially permeable to the ions stored and released by the active material. The pores are formed as part of the shell. The pores are formed inside of the shell within the active material. Each of the active material particles comprises a porous, electrically-conductive scaffolding matrix within which the active material is disposed, where the scaffolding matrix structurally supports the active material, electrically interconnects the active material, and accommodates the changes in volume of the active material. Each of the active material particles comprises a dendritic or curved, electrically-conducting backbone configured to structurally support the active material. The electrolyte is a composite electrolyte comprising a second electrolyte disposed in conjunction with the first solid electrolyte. The second electrolyte is a solid electrolyte. The first solid electrolyte forms a first layer encasing the active material particles and the second solid electrolyte forms a second layer overlaying the first layer. The first solid electrolyte ionically interconnects active material particles of the anode and the second solid electrolyte ionically interconnects active material particles of the cathode. The second electrolyte is a liquid or polymer electrolyte. One of the first or second electrolytes forms a coating on the active material particles, where the other of the first or second electrolytes is disposed on the coated active material particles. The inter-layer comprises a polymer or liquid electrolyte, or a mixed electrical and ionic conductor. The electrically-conductive matrix forms a structural support for the active material particles. In the composition, both the anode and the cathode electrodes include the active material particles including internal pores. The solid electrolyte is optionally the same for the anode and the cathode. The solid electrolyte comprises: lithium sulfide-containing solid electrolyte material; a garnet-type solid electrolyte material; or a mixture of the lithium sulfide-containing solid electrolyte material and/or the garnet-type solid electrolyte material with a polymer electrolyte.