At least one embodiment of the present invention provides preparation methods and compositions for nanoarchitectured multi-component materials based on carbon-coated iron-molybdenum mixed oxide as the electrode material for energy storage devices. A sol-gel process containing soluble organics is a preferred method. The soluble organics could become a carbon coating for the mixed oxide after thermal decomposition. The existence of the carbon coating provides the mixed oxide with an advantage in cycling stability over the corresponding carbon-free mixed oxide. For the carbon-coated mixed oxide, a stable cycling stability at high charge/discharge rate (3A/g) can be obtained with Mo/Fe molar ratios ≧1/3. The cycling stability and rate capability could be tuned by incorporating a structural additive such as Al2O3 and a conductive additive such as carbon nanotubes. The high rate performance of the multi-component material has been demonstrated in a full device with porous carbons as the positive electrode material.