The present disclosure provides a method of making a negative electrode material for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The method includes centrifugally distributing a precursor including silicon, lithium, and an additional metal (M) selected from the group consisting of: aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), zirconium (Zr), yttrium (Y), cerium (Ce), and combinations thereof by contacting the precursor with a rotating surface in a centrifugal atomizing reactor and solidifying the precursor to form a plurality of substantially round solid electroactive particles that include Li4.4xSixMy, where x is greater than 0 to less than or equal to about 0.85 and y corresponds to a weight percent of M that is greater than or equal to 0.1 wt. % to less than or equal to about 10 wt. %.