This invention relates to electrodes for non-aqueous lithium cells and batteries with silver manganese oxide positive electrodes, denoted Ag_xMnO_y, in which x and y are such that the manganese ions in the charged or partially charged electrodes cells have an average oxidation state greater than 3.5. The silver manganese oxide electrodes optionally contain silver powder and/or silver foil to assist in current collection at the electrodes and to improve the power capability of the cells or batteries. The invention relates also to a method for preparing Ag_xMnO_y electrodes by decomposition of a permanganate salt, such as AgMnO₄, or by the decomposition of KMnO₄ or LiMnO₄ in the presence of a silver salt.