A method of making a lithium metal anode for a battery cell is disclosed. The method comprises providing a current collector 12 comprising metal and having a first side 14. The method further comprises applying a metal oxide layer to the first side 14 of the current collector 12. The metal oxide layer comprises metal oxide for enhanced wettability of the first side 14. The method further comprises loading molten lithium to the metal oxide layer at a set temperature in an inert atmosphere to define a molten lithium layer having a first thickness on the metal oxide layer. The method further comprises reducing the first thickness of the molten lithium layer to a second thickness at the set temperature in the inert atmosphere. The method further comprises cooling the molten lithium layer to solidify the molten lithium layer in the inert atmosphere, defining a solid lithium layer on the metal oxide layer.