Binding agents for electrochemically active materials and methods of forming the same

A method of forming an electrode, the method comprising:

• providing a current collector comprising one or more layers of metal;
• providing a precursor comprising from greater than 0% to about 99% by weight of electrochemically active material;
• and
• heating the precursor and the current collector to form a composite material and at least one phase between the composite material and the current collector;
• wherein the at least one phase is configured to adhere the composite material to the current collector, and wherein the at least one phase comprises a compound of the metal and the electrochemically active material, and
• wherein said at least one phase comprises localized phases comprising particles of said compound surrounded by the composite material, the localized phases scattered across a plane between the current collector and the composite material to a depth in the composite material of 10% or less of composite material thickness.