A prelithiated and surface-stabilized
anode active material for use in a
lithium battery, comprising a protected
anode active material particle comprising a surface-stabilizing layer embracing a
core particle, wherein the surface-stabilizing layer comprises a
lithium- or
sodium-containing species chemically bonded to the
core particle and the
lithium- or
sodium-containing species is selected from Li2CO3, Li2O, Li2C2O4, LiOH, LiX, ROCO2Li, HCOLi, ROLi, (ROCO2Li)2, (CH2OCO2Li)2, Li2S, LixSOy, Li4B, Na4B, Na2CO3, Na2O, Na2C2O4, NaOH, NaiX, ROCO2Na, HCONa, RONa, (ROCO2Na)2, (CH2OCO2Na)2, Na2S, NaxSOy, or a combination thereof, wherein X=F, Cl, I, or Br, R=a
hydrocarbon group, 0<x≤1, and 1≤y≤4; wherein the lithium- or
sodium-containing species is preferably derived from an
electrochemical decomposition reaction and the
core particle is prelithiated to contain an amount of lithium from 1% to 100% of the maximum lithium content that can be included in the core particle of
anode active material.