Control over porous electrode microstructure is critical for the continued improvement of lithium ion batteries. This paper describes a convenient and economical method for controlling electrode porosity, thereby enhancing material loading and stabilizing the cycling performance of lithium ion electrodes. We demonstrates an areal capacity of ~4 mAh/cm² at a C/10 rate (0.51 mA/cm²) and an areal capacity of 3 mAh/cm² at a C/3 rate (1.7 mA/cm²), one of the highest material loadings reported for a Si-based anode at such a high cycling rate. X-ray microtomography confirmed the improved porous architecture of the Si-based electrode. The method developed here is expected to be compatible with the state-of-the-art lithium ion battery industrial fabrication processes, and therefore holds great promise as a practical technique for boosting the electrochemical performance of lithium ion batteries without changing material systems.