Patent ID: 7858230

Claim:
A method of making a battery, the method comprising: (a) heating at least one cathode comprising a current collector, a cathode active material that is reduced during operation of the battery, and a polymeric binder at a temperature of between 160° C. and 240° C. in an atmosphere in step (a) comprising oxygen at a partial pressure of from 0.1 inch Hg to 4 inches Hg to oxidize residual aromatic compounds or hydrocarbons in the cathode without substantially oxidizing the binder; (b) after step (a), heating the at least one cathode in a vacuum to remove water from the cathode; (c) adding the at least one cathode into a housing; (d) adding a separator into the housing; and (e) adding an anode comprising an anode active material that is oxidized during operation of the battery into the housing.