Provided is an anode particulate for a lithium battery, the particulate comprising a polymer foam material having pores and a single or a plurality of primary particles of an anode active material embedded in or in contact with said polymer foam material, wherein said primary particles of anode active material have a total solid volume Va, and said pores have a total pore volume Vp, and the volume ratio Vp/Va is from 0.1/1.0 to 10/1.