TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The S=O containing compound forms an electrode film prior to the carbonate and the propionate-based ester at an initial charging process. The cyclic sulfite of formula (II) includes ethylene sulfite, methyl ethylene sulfite, ethyl ethylene sulfite, 4,5-dimethyl ethylene sulfite, 4,5-diethyl ethylene sulfite, propylene sulfite, 4,5-dimethyl propylene sulfite, 4,5-diethyl propylene sulfite, 4,6-dimethyl propylene sulfite, 4,6-diethyl propylene sulfite, and/or 1,3-butylene glycol sulfite. The saturated sultone of formula (III) includes 1,3-propane sultone and/or 1,4-butane sultone. The unsaturated sultone of formula (IV) includes ethene sultone, 1,3-propene sultone, 1,4-butene sultone, and/or 1-methyl-l,3-propene sultone. The non-cyclic sulfone of formula (V) includes divinyl sulfone, dimethyl sulfone, diethyl sulfone, methyl ethyl sulfone, and/or methyl vinyl sulfone. The propionate-based ester includes methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, propyl propionate, and/or butyl propionate.R3-R16=H, halo, 1-6C (halo)alkyl;R17,R18=1-6C (halo)alkyl, 2-6C (halo)alkenyl, 6-18C (halo)aryl; andn=0-3.Provided that n is not zero for compound (II). Preferred Electrolyte: The electrolyte comprises (wt.%) propionate-based ester (3-80), and S=O containing compound (0.5-5). Preferred Parameter: The anode has a specific surface area of 1.5-4.5 m2/g.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Binder: The binder is water-based and includes styrene-butadiene rubber. EXAMPLE - Lithium hexafluorophosphate was dissolved in a mixed organic solvent until a concentration of 1M. The solvent was prepared by mixing ethylene carbonate and ethyl propionate at 3:7 volume ratio, and adding (3 wt.%) propane sultone. A battery in a coin shape was made using the electrolyte, lithium cobalt oxide as cathode active material, artificial graphite as an anode material, and styrene-butadiene rubber as binder. Tests were conducted. Results were: initial efficiency of 94.6%, life cycle after 100 times charging/discharging of 85%, low-temperature (- 20 degrees C) discharge capacity of 59.3%, high-rate discharge capacity at 0.5C of 95.4%, and open circuit voltage drop of - 0.0057 V.