Patent ID: 8637184

Claim:
A rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprising: a positive electrode having a first active material on a positive substrate, the active material including LiNi x Co 1-x-y M y O 2 wherein M is chosen from the group consisting of Mn, Al, Mg, B, Ti, and Li, and wherein 0.5≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦0.3; a negative electrode having a second active material on a negative substrate, the second active material including carbon, the negative electrode being susceptible to damage when a voltage exceeding a Damage Potential Threshold (DPT) is applied to the negative electrode, the DPT being lower than the maximum positive operating potential of the battery; the positive and negative electrodes defining a Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) relative to a reference level when the voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is zero; and the positive electrode and the negative electrode being configured such that the value of the ZCP is less than the value of the DPT at a predetermined temperature.