The disclosure relates a niobium oxide useful in anodes of secondary lithium ion batteries. Such niobium oxide has formula LixM1−yNbyNb2O7, wherein 0≦x≦3, 0≦y≦1, and M represents Ti or Zr. The niobium oxide may be in the form of particles, which may be carbon coated. The disclosure also relates to an electrode composition containing at least one or more niobium oxides of formula LixM1−yNbyNb2O7. The disclosure further relates to electrodes, such as anodes, and batteries containing at least one or more niobium oxides of formula LixM1−yNbyNb2O7. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to methods of forming the above.