Use of additives in electrolyte for electrochemical cells

1. An electrolyte comprising a lithium containing inorganic conductive salt dissolved in an aprotic solvent, wherein the electrolyte further comprises at least one organic alkali metal salt as an additive, wherein the organic alkali metal salt is a lithium borate of the formula (1)

Li + B − (OR 1 ) m (OR 2 ) p   (I)

in which

m and p are 0,1,2,3, or 4, where m+p=4

and

R 1 and R 2 are identical or different,

are optionally bonded directly to one another by a single or double bond,

and are each, individually or together, an aromatic or aliphatic carboxylic, dicarboxylic or sulfonic acid, or

are each, individually or together, an aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl and phenanthrenyl, which is optionally unsubstituted or mono- to tetrasubstituted by A or Hal, or

are each, individually or together, a heterocyclic aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, pyrazyl and bipyridyl, which is optionally unsubstituted or mono to trisubstituted by A or Hal, or

are each, individually or together, an aromatic hydroxy acid selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids and aromatic hydroxysulfonic acids, which is optionally unsubstituted or mono- to tetrasubstituted by A or Hal,

and

Hal is F, Cl or Br

and

A is alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may be mono- to trihalogenated,

wherein the organic alkali metal salt additive is present in concentrations of from 0.1 to 10% by weight based on the weight of conductive salt.

2. An electrolyte according to claim 1 , wherein the organic alkali metal salt additive is selected from the group consisting of

lithium bis[1,2-benzenediolato(2-)0,0′]borate(1-),

lithium bis[3-fluoro-1,2-benzenediolato(2-)0,0′]borate( 1-),

lithium bis[2,3-naphthalenediolato(2-)0,0′]borate-(1-),

lithium bis[2,2′-biphenyldiolato(2-)0,0′]borate(1-),

lithium bis[2-olatobenzene-sulfonato(2-)0,0′]borate(1-),

lithium bis[salicylato(2-)-0,0′]-borate(1-),

lithium bis[5-fluoro-2-olatobenzenesulfonato(2-)0,0′]borate,

lithium bis[oxalato(2-)0,0′]borate and lithium bis[molonato(2-)0,0′]borate.

3. An electrochemical cell containing an electrolyte according to claim 1 , further comprising an anode, a cathode, and a separator.

4. An electrochemical cell, battery or secondary lithium battery which comprises an electrolyte according to claim 1 .

5. A secondary lithium battery comprising an electrolyte according to claim 1 .

6. An electrolyte according to claim 1 , wherein the inorganic conductive salt is LiPF 6 , LiBF 4 , LiClO 4 , LiAsF 6 or mixtures thereof.

7. An electrolyte according to claim 1 , wherein the aprotic solvent is ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), propylene carbonate(PC), diethyl carbonate(DEC), butylene carbonate (BC), vinylene carbonate (VC), cyclopentanone, solfolane, dimethyl sulphone (DMS), 3- methyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one, y-butyrolactone, ethyl methyl carbonate(EMC), methylproply carbonate(MPC), butyl methyl carbonate (BMC), ethylpropyl carbonate (EPC), butyl ethyl carbonate (BEC), dipropyl carbonate (DPC), 1,2-diethoxymethane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and mixtures thereof.

8. An electrolyte according to claim 1 , wherein the organic alkali metal salt additive is present in concentrations of from 0.1 to 7% by weight based on the weight of conductive salt.

9. An electrolyte according to claim 1 , wherein the organic alkali metal salt additive is present in concentrations of from 1 to 5% by weight based on the weight of conductive salt.