An
electrolyte for rechargeable batteries with a negative
electrode of
lithium or
lithium containing alloys comprising: one or several non-aqueous organic solvents, one or several
lithium salts and one or several additives increasing the cycle life of the
lithium electrode. The
electrolyte solution may comprise one or several solvents selected from the group comprising: tetrahydrofurane, 2-methyltetrahydrofurane, dimethylcarbonate, diethylcarbonate, ethylmethylcarbonate, methylpropylcarbonate, methylpropylpropyonate, ethylpropylpropyonate, methylacetate, ethylacetate, propylacetate, dimetoxyethane, 1,3-dioxalane,
diglyme (2-methoxyethil
ether), tetraglyme, ethylenecarbonate, propylencarbonate, γ-butyrolactone, and
sulfolane. The
electrolyte solution may further comprise at least one salt or several salts selected from the group consisting of
lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF6),
lithium perchlorate (LiClO4), lithium sulfonylimid trifluoromethane (LiN(CF3SO2)2)) and lithium trifluorosulfonate (CF3SO3Li) or other lithium salts or salts of another
alkali metal or a mixture thereof. Also disclosed is an
electrochemical cell or battery with an
anode of
metallic lithium or a lithium-containing
alloy, and such an electrolyte.