Electrodes including an embedded compressible or shape changing component

A product comprising:

• a first electrode comprising an active material comprising at least one of carbon or silicon, and electrically conductive microballoons;
• a second electrode, comprising an active material comprising at least one of cobalt dioxide, nickel-cobalt-manganese, nickel-cobalt-aluminum, manganese oxide spinel, iron phosphate, manganese phosphate intermetallics of active and inactive components or metal fluorides, and electrically conducitve microballoons;
• an insulative porous separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode being constructed and arranged to allow passage of lithium ions therethrough;
• an electrolyte to facilitate the movement of lithium ions from the first electrode to the second electrode and from the second electrode back to the first electrode;
• wherein the electrically conductive microballoons of each of the first electrode and second electrode having a first shape in the electrode when no lithium ions are present in the electrode, and having sufficient flexibility to be compressed upon migration of lithium ions into the electrode, and having sufficient resiliency to return to the first shape upon migration of lithium ions out of the electrode.