Abstract: The present disclosure relates to utilizing laser ablation to selectively remove regions of active material from lithium-ion battery electrodes during production, forming channels. These channels may improve the radius of curvature of the lithium-ion battery, form patterns on the surface of the electrode to store excess electrolyte, provide improved access to external sources of lithium during pre-lithiation or re-lithiation, and/or lower the tortuosity of electrodes for enhanced ion transfer between electrodes during cycling in prismatic cells and cylindrical cells.