An anode material with lithium-alloying particles contained within a porous support matrix is provided. The porous support matrix preferably has a porosity of between 5 and 80% afforded by porosity channels and expansion accommodation pores, and is electrically conductive. More preferably the support matrix has a porosity of between 10 and 50%. The support matrix is made from an organic polymer, an inorganic ceramic or a hybrid mixture of organic polymer and inorganic ceramic. The organic polymer support matrix and can be made from a rod-coil polymer, a hyperbranched polymer, UV cross-linked polymer, heat cross-linked polymer or combination thereof. An inorganic ceramic support matrix can be made from at least one group IV-VI transition metal compound, with the compound being a nitride, carbide, oxide or combination thereof. The lithium-alloying particles are preferably nanoparticles with a mean linear dimension of between 5 and 500 nanometers, and more preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 5 and 50 nanometers.