Abstract: A method of activating a carbonaceous electrode is disclosed which comprises the steps of heating the electrodes to a desired temperature in water to remove surface debris from said electrodes, providing a negative electrode and a carbonaceous positive electrode spaced apart from each other, providing an aqueous electrolyte having a predetermined concentration of sulfuric acid therein and circulating the sulfuric acid solution through the porous positive electrode, passing an electrical current through the positive and negative electrodes for a predetermined time period sufficient to modify the pore structure of the positive electrode, rinsing said positive electrode, heating said electrode at a desired temperature for a desired period of time to substantially remove the activation layer and surface compound of oxygen and hydrogen on the electrode. The electrodes of the present invention are utilized in molten salt lithium-aluminum/chloride battery systems.