Patent ID: 8257847

Claim:
A lithium secondary battery comprising: a cathode having a phosphate compound of olivine structure having a formula selected from LiM x Fe 1-x PO 4 (0≦x≦0.5), LiM x Co 1-x PO 4 (0≦x≦0.5), LiM x Ni 1-x PO 4 (0≦x≦0.5), LiM x Mn 1-x PO 4 (0≦x≦0.5), and LiM x V 1.5-x PO 4 (0≦x≦0.75) as a cathode active material, wherein when x does not equal 0, M is at least one member selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and V, an anode, a separator sandwiched between the cathode and the anode, an electrolyte comprising a supporting salt dissolved therein, and a safety valve having a valve-opening pressure within the range of 25 kgf/cm 2 to 30 kgf/cm 2 , wherein, assuming that an initial amount of Li contained in the cathode is 100, an initial amount of Li contained in the electrolyte is within the range of 5 to 20.