A negative electrode for a lithium metal battery, comprising: a lithium metal electrode comprising lithium metal or a lithium metal alloy; and a protective layer on at least a portion of the lithium metal electrode, wherein the protective layer has a Young's modulus of 10 6 pascals or greater and comprises microspheres having a D 50 particle size of greater than 1 μm to 100 μm, wherein the microspheres are organic particles, wherein the protective layer further comprises a lithium salt or liquid electrolyte, wherein the microspheres comprise a polymer comprising a poly(styrenedivinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(ethyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(pentyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(butyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(propyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) copolymer, a poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate) copolymer, a poly(styreneacrylonitrile) copolymer, poly(styrene-vinylpyridine) copolymer, a poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) copolymer, a poly(acrylonitrile-ethylene-propylene-styrene) copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) copolymer, a poly((C1-C9 alkyl) methacrylate-butadiene-styrene) copolymer, a poly(styrene-(C1-C9 alkyl) acrylate) copolymer, a poly(acrylonitrile-styrene-(C1-C9 alkyl) acrylate) copolymer, or a combination thereof, wherein the Young's modulus of the protective layer is measured according to ASTM D412, and wherein the protective layer has a porosity of 25% to 50%, based on a total volume of the protective layer. a lithium metal electrode comprising lithium metal or a lithium metal alloy; and a protective layer on at least a portion of the lithium metal electrode, wherein the protective layer has a Young's modulus of 10 6 pascals or greater and comprises microspheres having a D 50 particle size of greater than 1 μm to 100 μm, wherein the microspheres are organic particles, wherein the protective layer further comprises a lithium salt or liquid electrolyte, wherein the microspheres comprise a polymer comprising a poly(styrenedivinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(ethyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(pentyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(butyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(propyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) copolymer, a poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) copolymer, a poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate) copolymer, a poly(styreneacrylonitrile) copolymer, poly(styrene-vinylpyridine) copolymer, a poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) copolymer, a poly(acrylonitrile-ethylene-propylene-styrene) copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) copolymer, a poly((C1-C9 alkyl) methacrylate-butadiene-styrene) copolymer, a poly(styrene-(C1-C9 alkyl) acrylate) copolymer, a poly(acrylonitrile-styrene-(C1-C9 alkyl) acrylate) copolymer, or a combination thereof, wherein the Young's modulus of the protective layer is measured according to ASTM D412, and wherein the protective layer has a porosity of 25% to 50%, based on a total volume of the protective layer.