Systems, methods, and high performance electrochemical devices employing electroactive particles having a sandwich structure are described. The electroactive particle includes an electroactive layer between a pair of dimension-control layers. The electroactive layer includes an electroactive material configured to receive cations and experience a volumetric change in response thereto. The dimension-control layers are configured to inhibit planar dimensional changes of the electroactive particle such that the volumetric change of the electroactive layer occurs through a vertical dimension of the electroactive particle. The vertical dimension is orthogonal to the planar dimensions.