An active material is disclosed comprising metal oxide/hydroxide particles having chemically bonded to reactive sites on a surface thereof, a monolayer of a phosphorous-containing organic material comprised of a phosphorous-containing group and a carbon-containing group. The bond to the metal oxide/hydroxide particle surface is formed by reaction of the phosphorous-containing group with the metal oxide/hydroxide particle surface, so that the carbon-containing group of the material is oriented away from the metal oxide/hydroxide surface.