Metal electrodes, more specifically lithium-containing anodes, high performance electrochemical devices, such as secondary batteries, including the aforementioned lithium-containing electrodes, and methods for fabricating the same are provided. In one or more embodiments, an anode electrode structure is provided and includes a current collector comprising copper, a lithium metal film formed on the current collector, a copper film formed on the lithium metal film, and a protective film formed on the copper film. The protective film is a lithium-ion conducting film can include lithium-ion conducting ceramic, a lithium-ion conducting glass, or ion conducting liquid crystal.