TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Electrolyte: The non-aqueous electrolyte contains at least one amide compound of formulae: (R1-C(=O)-NH-NH-C(=O))n-R2, R8-NH-C(=O)-C(=O)-NH-R9, or amide compound of formula (II).R1=1-12C alkyl, 3-8C cycloalkyl, 6-18C aryl, alkyl aryl, aryl alkyl or aryloxy alkyl, where aryl groups are optionally substituted by alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, fluoro or silyl;m,n=1 or 2;R2=R1, direct bond, 1-12C alkylene, cycloalkylene or arylene;R3=direct bond, 1-18C alkyl, alkenyl, cyclo alkyl, aryl, 1-12C alkylene, cycloalkylene, arylene or at least one group of formulae (IIa,IIb);R4-R7=H, hydroxyl, 1-12C alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, fluoro or silyl, however R4 and R5 combines to form a condensed ring;R8,R9=1-18C alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, group of formula: -X-O-C(=O)-R10, or group of formula (IIa);X=1-12C alkylene, cycloalkylene or arylene;R10=1-12C alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or group of formula (IIIa);R11,R12=H, 1-12C alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl;ands=0-4.When n is 1, R2 is R1 and when n is 2, R2 is direct bond, 1-12C alkylene, cycloalkylene or arylene, and when m is 1, R3 is 1-18C alkyl, alkenyl, cyclo alkyl, aryl, or at least one group of formulae (IIa,IIb), and when m is 2, R3 is direct bond, 1-12C alkylene, cycloalkylene or arylene. The non-aqueous electrolyte further contains an organic solvent chosen from carbonate, lactone, ether, sulfolane and/or dioxolane.Preferred Compound: The carbonate compound is a cyclic carbonate compound and/or linear carbonate compound. The cyclic carbonate compound is ethylene carbonate and/or 1,2-butylene carbonate. The linear carbonate compound is dimethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate and/or diethyl carbonate. EXAMPLE - A positive electrode was prepared by mixing acetylene black (in weight parts) (10), LiNiO2 (85) and polyvinylidene fluoride (5), dispersing in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and then applying the resultant slurry to an aluminum current collector and subsequently pressing into shape and cutting to required size. A negative electrode was prepared by mixing polyvinylidene fluoride (7.5) with carbon (92.5), dispersing in NMP and applying to a copper current collector, pressing and cutting into shape. A non-aqueous electrolyte was prepared comprising LiPF6 (1 mol/l) in a mixed solvent of ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate (1:1) with the addition of 3-(N-salicyloyl)amino-1,2,4-triazole (0.1 wt.%). The components were assembled to form a lithium secondary battery. It was found that the addition of the amide derivative prevented short circuit defects and maintained the battery capability.