Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to an electrode that includes: a porous carbon material; a metal (e.g., Li) associated with the porous carbon material; and a conductive additive (e.g., graphene nanoribbons) associated with the porous carbon material. The metal may be in the form of a non-dendritic or non-mossy coating on a surface of the porous carbon material. The electrodes may also be associated with a substrate, such as a copper foil. The electrodes may be utilized as anodes or cathodes in energy storage devices, such as lithium ion batteries. Additional embodiments pertain to energy storage devices that contain the electrodes of the present disclosure. Further embodiments pertain to methods of making the electrodes by associating porous carbon materials with a conductive additive, a metal, and optionally a substrate. The electrode may then be incorporated as a component of an energy storage device.