Micro-Porous Battery Substrate

This disclosure relates to a battery and a method for its manufacture. An example method includes forming a substrate having a first surface, the first surface having a plurality of pores. The pores may be configured to house lithium metal. The method includes incorporating lithium metal into at least a portion of the plurality of pores. The lithium metal may be incorporated into the pores via a pre-lithiation process, which may include electroplating of lithium metal into the porous substrate. The method also includes forming an electrolyte disposed between the first surface of the substrate and a cathode. The electrolyte is configured to reversibly transport lithium ions via diffusion between the substrate and the cathode. The method also includes forming the cathode. Some embodiments may provide the substrate to jointly serve as an anode and electrically-conductive current collector.