POROUS ANODE FOR A LITHIUM ION BATTERY CELL, METHOD OF FABRICATING A POROUS ANODE, AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A LITHIUM ION BATTERY CELL

A method of fabricating a porous anode for a lithium-ion battery cell comprises forming an anode coating on a conductive substrate, where the anode coating comprises an anode material, a solvent, a dissolved lithium salt and a binder. The dissolved lithium salt is crystallized to form lithium salt crystals throughout the anode coating. The solvent is removed from the anode coating, leaving the anode material with the lithium salt crystals distributed therein adhered to the conductive substrate. After removing the solvent, the anode material containing the lithium salt crystals is compacted on the conductive substrate, thereby forming an anode. The anode is immersed in an electrolyte, such that the electrolyte penetrates the anode material. The lithium salt crystals dissolve into the electrolyte, leaving pores in the anode material and increasing an ion concentration of the electrolyte. The immersion may take place during assembly of a battery cell.