Patent ID: 7638229

Claim:
A lithium secondary battery, comprising: a cathode active material including a lithium-containing transition metal oxide capable of performing reversible storage and release of lithium ions; an anode active material including graphitized carbon capable of performing reversible storage and release of lithium ions; a porous separator; and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing (i) a lithium salt, (ii) an electrolyte solution and (iii) a metal ion deposition inhibitor wherein the metal ion deposition inhibitor comprises an ammonium compound, wherein the ammonium compound forms a stable surface coating on the anode to prevent the deposition of metal ions and wherein the lithium-containing transition metal oxide in the cathode active material is one or more metal oxides selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by Formula (III): LiCo a Mn b Ni c M d O 2 (III) wherein each a, b, c and d is independently in a range of 0 to 1, with proviso that the sum of a, b, c and d is 1, and M is selected from the group consisting of Al, B, Ga, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Zn, Ge, Y, Zr, Sn, Sr, Ba and Nb; and compounds represented by Formula (IV): Li X Mn 2-Y M′ Y O 4 (IV) wherein X is in a range of 0.9 to 2, Each Y is independently in a range of 0 to 0.5, and M′ is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Sn, Cr, V, Ti, Mg, Ca, Sr, B, Ga, In, Si and Ge.