Porous Ag doped and undoped thin film LiCoO2 cathodes for Li ion batteries were prepared by the pyrolysis of a polymeric precursor. The resistivity of the composite LiCoO2 thin films was around 10(-3) Omega-cm, whereas undoped LiCoO2 thin films were observed to have resistivities over 10(2) Omega-cm. The composite materials could be reversibly oxidized and reduced with much smaller overpotentials (0.03 V versus 0.17 V) and better reversibility relative to traditional materials.