Patent ID: 6936382

Claim:
An electrochemical cell comprising: (a) a solid lithium anode; (b) a solid cathode comprising an electroactive sulfur-containing material; and (c) a non-aqueous electrolyte interposed between the anode and the cathode wherein the electrolyte comprises: (i) one or more lithium salts; (ii) one or more non-aqueous solvents; and (iii) one or more capacity-enhancing reactive components; wherein said capacity-enhancing reactive components comprise an electron transfer mediator selected from the group consisting of the mediator of the formula: and the mediator of the formula: wherein: Z is the same or different at each occurrence and is selected from the group consisting of O, S, Se, and NR 5 , where R 5 is alkyl, aryl, or substituted derivatives thereof; R is the same or different at each occurrence and is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, F, Cl, CF 3 , CF 3 SO 2 , and N(R 6 ) 2 , where R 6 is alkyl, aryl, or substituted derivatives thereof; Y is —C═C— or t is an integer from 0 to 4; and u is an integer from 1 to 6.