TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The lithium rich composition is a lithium-manganese-nickel- cobalt compound of formula (Li(1.2)Mn(0.525)Ni(0.175)Co(0.1)O2 or LiMn(1.5)Ni(0.5)O4), and is provided as particles with particle sizes of less than 100 nm. Preferred Components: The carbon fiber of the positive electrode is: carbon nanofiber, the binder composition comprises a polymer binder and conductive carbon particles, and the carbon nanofiber, polymer binder and conductive carbon particles are bound to a metal current collector; and is a carbon fiber mat, and the binder composition comprises a mesophase pitch derived conductive carbon binder. The silicon nanoparticles have a diameter of 50-100 nm. The battery having a total volumetric energy density exceeds 600 W hour/l and a total gravimetric energy density of the battery exceeds 400 W hour/Kg, and is cycled to a voltage of greater than 4.6 volts. The carbon binder is derived from thermal decomposition of mesophase petroleum pitch. The loading of silicon nanoparticles on the fibers is 30-50% of the total electrode mass per unit area. The thickness of the cathode is 75-150 mu m. The thickness of the silicon-carbon fiber anode is 100 mu m. The anode has an initial capacity that exceeds at least by 10% the capacity of the cathode layer when normalized to thickness and area of the electrode. The electrode does not comprise a metal current collector or a polymeric binder. The carbon nanofibers have an outer diameter of 100-200 nm and a hollow core of 1/2-2/3 of the total fiber diameter, and for the anode have a diameter of 2-25 mu m. The amount of the lithium rich composition is 85-90 wt.%, the binder composition is 5-7 wt.%, and the carbon fibers are 0.5-1 wt.%. Preferred Method: In the method-I, the slurry includes the carbon nanofiber, polymer binder and conductive carbon particles, and slurry is coated onto a metal current collector and then thermally treated, and the slurry of the mesophase pitch and lithium rich composition is coated onto the mat and then thermally treated such that the mesophase pitch is conductive. In the method-II, the amount of carbon fibers are 40-50 wt.%, the silicon nanoparticles are 40-50 wt.%, and the mesophase pitch is 5-7 wt.%. The thermal treatment in the method-I and II is carried out at 500-700 degrees C.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The solvent is N-vinyl pyrolidonne.