TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compounds: The additive is an organic lithium borate or lithium alcoholate. The lithium borate has the formula Li+B-(OR1)m(OR2)p, where m and p are 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; m + p = 4; R1 and R2 may be the same or different, are optionally bonded together by a single or double bond and are individually or together (a) an aromatic or aliphatic carboxylic, dicarboxylic or sulfonic acid group, (b) an aromatic ring selected from phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl or phenanthrenyl which is unsubstituted or is substituted one to four times by A or Hal, (c) a heterocyclic aromatic ring selected from pyridyl, pyrazyl or bipyridyl which is unsubstituted or is substituted one to three times by A or Hal or (d) an aromatic hydroxy-acid selected from aromatic hydroxy-carboxylic or hydroxy-sulfonic acid which is unsubstituted or is substituted one to four times by A or Hal; A is a single to triple halogenated 1-6C alkyl; and Hal is F, Cl or Br. The lithium alcoholate has the formula Li+OR-, where R is as described above in (a), (b), (c) or (d). WIDER DISCLOSURE - The use of tetraalkyl ammonium salts as additives is also disclosed.    SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - The additive is selected from lithium bis(1,2-benzenediolato(2-)O,O) borate(1-), lithium bis(3-fluoro-1,2-benzenediolato(2-)O,O) borate(1-), lithium bis(2,3-naphthalenediolato(2-)O,O) borate(1-), lithium bis(2,2'-biphenyldiolato(2-)O,O) borate(1-), lithium bis(salicylato(2-)O,O) borate(1-), lithium bis(2-olatobenzenesulfonato(2-)O,O) borate(1-), lithium bis(5-fluoro-2-olatobenzenesulfonato(2-)O,O) borate(1-), lithium phenolate, lithium 2,2-biphenolate, lithium bis(oxalato(2-)O,O) borate and lithium bis(malonato(2-)O,O) borate.    EXAMPLE - Three successive cyclovoltammograms were recorded for a measuring cell with a graphite anode (SFG 44 with PVDF binder), a lithium counter-electrode and a lithium reference electrode, the potential being decreased from the rest potential to 0 V (versus Li/Li+) at a rate of 0.1 mV/sec. and then returned to the rest potential. The electrolytes comprised solutions of 1M LiPF6 in EC/DMC (1:1) containing lithium bis(1,2-salicylato(2-)O,O) borate(1-) in respective quantities (based on the LiPF6 wt.) of (1) (control) 0%, (2) 1% and (3) 5%. The results were: yield in the first cycle (1) 71.7%, (2) 69.5% and (3) 61.3%; and yield in the third cycle (1) 90.5%, (2) 95.5% and (3) 95.1%.