Abstract: An electrode architecture for lithium ion batteries provides cooling of the bulk electrode during room temperature to high temperature (e.g., 50° C.-80° C.) battery operation. The battery electrode architecture includes alternating layers of lithium ion active material and current collection layers containing with interconnections between current collection layers. The current collection layers contain metallic multi-walled carbon nanotubes which have high electrical and thermal conductivity. Also provided are lithium ion batteries containing the electrode. The batteries have enhanced lifetime due to avoidance of degradation reactions in the active material at high temperatures.