NOVELTY - An electrochemical cell (11) comprises an anode (20) containing a base electrode material having lithium; a single-ion conductive layer (50); a polymeric layer (44) between the base electrode layer and the conductive layer; and a separation layer between the base electrode layer and the polymeric layer.    USE - As electrochemical cell for storing energy (claimed), as rechargeable batteries useful in water and/or in air environments; as non-aqueous-based electrolyte batteries; and in portable electronic devices such as cellular phones and laptop computers.    ADVANTAGE - The electrode stabilization layer positioned within the electrode controls depletion and re-plating of electrode material upon charge and discharge of a battery. The electrochemical are compatible with environments that are typically unsuitable for lithium, and capable of displaying long cycle life, high lithium cycling efficiency, and high energy density. The components of cell provide superior protection and/or maintenance of electrodes (especially lithium anodes) in rechargeable and other batteries. The cell protects electrode from components of an electrolyte that can react with or otherwise hasten the demise of (shorten the cycle life of) the electrode and/or overall device, provide control over dissolution of anode material into electrolyte (e.g., reduction of lithium to lithium ion); and re-plates electrode material from the electrolyte (e.g., oxidation of lithium ion to lithium metal), at the anode. The cell provides superior control of desirable passage of components from the electrode to the electrolyte (e.g., lithium ion) while inhibiting passage of undesirable components from the electrolyte to the electrode that can damage the electrode. The polymer layers impart flexibility at the surface of the electrode where morphological changes occur upon charge and discharge. Multi-layered electrode stabilization structures are designed to minimize defects that might otherwise exist inherently in prior electrode protective structures, or that might exist inherently in electrode protective structures using the same or similar materials as those used in protective structures, but arranged differently. The single ion-conductive layers can also grow with fewer defects than would occur if they were deposited directly onto the rougher lithium or electrolyte layers. The ion-conductive layers can be made that have overall fewer defects that are not aligned with defects in nearest other ion-conductive layers and, where defects exist, they are typically significantly less detrimental (e.g., smaller) than would otherwise exist in a continuously-grown, thicker structure or layers of the same or similar material deposited on top of each other. The multi-layered structure can protect the anode by decreasing the water and/or oxygen penetration across the layers. By alternatively discharging and charging the cell, at least two hundred fifty times, the cell exhibits at least 80% of the cell's initial capacity at the end of the two hundred fifth cycles.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An electrochemical cell (11) comprises an anode (20) containing a base electrode material of lithium; and a multi-layered structure (24, 26) positioned between the anode and an electrolyte of the cell. The multi-layered structure comprises at least two single-ion conductive layers (e.g. lithiated metal layer) (50, 52); at least two polymeric layers (44, 46). The conductive layers and polymeric layers are arranged in alternating order with respect to each other. Each layer of the multi-layered structure has a maximum thickness of 25 microns. Each single-ion conductive material layer has a thickness of not greater than 10 microns. The separation layer is a plasma treated layer. The anode comprises a first layer of lithium; an embedded single-ion conductive, non-electronically conductive layer on the first layer; a second layer of lithium on the embedded layer and is positioned between the first layer and the electrolyte. The multi-layered structure has a maximum overall thickness of 300 (preferably 10) microns. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method of electrical energy storage and use, involving cycling the electrochemical cell, by alternatively discharging and charging the cell, at least three times where, at the end of the third cycle, the cell exhibits at least 80% of the cell's initial capacity.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a structure for use in the electrochemical cell.    electrochemical cell (11)    multi-layered structure (24, 26)    anode (20)    polymeric layers (40, 42)    polymeric layers (44, 46)    single-ion conductive material (50, 52, 54, 56)    electrolyte. (60)