A method of preparing an electrode for a lithium-ion battery includes mixing a magnetic, electrically conductive material with a lithium conductive polymer; forming tubes of the polymer and magnetic, electrically conductive material; mixing the tubes with a slurry of an electrode material; coating a current collector with the slurry; and applying a magnetic field to the slurry to align the tubes within the slurry in relation to the current collector. The aligned tubes form electrical and ionic conductive pathways within the slurry. The tubes have a length less than half a thickness of the slurry.