Abstract: Improved electrodes for lithium battery cells are made by coating micrometer-size anode or cathode material particles with aggregates of smaller conductive carbon black particles in two mixing steps, using a liquid dispersant in each step for the mixing particles. A first portion of carbon black is vigorously mixed with the electrode particles to coat their surfaces with the smaller carbon black particles. A second portion of carbon black is less vigorously mixed with the initially coated electrode particles to form clusters of carbon black particles at the interfaces of the previously coated electrode particles. This two-step distribution of carbon black particles increases the power capacity of the porous electrode layer bonded to its current collector and increases the life of its battery cell.