NOVELTY - The negative electrode (112) for a rechargeable lithium battery, comprises a current collector (1), a porous active material layer (2) including a metal-based active material on the current collector, and a high-strength binder layer (3) having a strength of 5-70 MPa on the porous active material layer. The binder layer comprises a high-strength binder, a filler and a lithium salt. The binder has a crystallinity degree of 10-70%, and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of -100 degrees C to 100 degrees C. The porous active material layer has a porosity of 30-70 vol.%.    USE - The negative electrode is useful for a rechargeable lithium battery, which is useful as power sources for small portable electronic devices.    ADVANTAGE - The negative electrode has improved cycle-life characteristics by suppressing volume expansion and reactions of the electrolyte at the electrode surface, and improves the battery resistance when operating at high discharge rates.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The negative electrode (112) for a rechargeable lithium battery, comprises a current collector (1), a porous active material layer (2) including a metal-based active material on the current collector, and a high-strength binder layer (3) having a strength of 5-70 MPa on the porous active material layer. The binder layer comprises a high-strength binder, a filler and a lithium salt. The binder has a crystallinity degree of 10-70%, and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of -100 degrees C to 100 degrees C. The porous active material layer has a porosity of 30-70 vol.%. The filler has an average particle size of 5-500 nm, and is present in an amount of 10-90 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder. The lithium salt is present in an amount of 1-50 wt.% based on a total weight of the binder layer. The binder layer has a thickness of 1-20 mu m. The metal-based active material comprises lithium metal and/or metals alloying with lithium. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a rechargeable lithium battery.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a negative electrode of a lithium rechargeable battery.    Current collector (1)    Porous active material layer (2)    High-strength binder layer (3)    Negative electrode. (112)