Patent ID: 7101642

Claim:
A rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprising: a positive electrode having a first active material on a substrate, the first active material including LiNi x Co 1−x−y M y O 2 wherein M is an element chosen from the group consisting of Mn, Al, Mg, B, Ti, and Li, and wherein 0.5≦×≦1 and 0<y≦0.3; a negative electrode having second active material on a substrate, the second active material including carbon; an electrolyte that reacts with the negative electrode to form a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer, the SEI layer being susceptible to damage when a voltage potential exceeding a Film Dissolution Potential (FDP) is applied thereto, and wherein the FDP is lower than the maximum positive operating potential of the battery; the positive electrode and the negative electrode 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 electrolyte, the positive electrode and the negative electrode being configured such that the ZCP is lower than the FDP during storage at a predetermined temperature.