TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The lithium salt is selected from LiPF6, LiBF4, LiAsF6, LiSbF6, LiClO4, LiAlCl4, LiGaCl4, LiC(SO2CF3)3, LiNO3, LiN(SO2CF3)2, LiSCN, LiO3SCF2CF3, LiC6F5SO3, LiO2CCF3, LiSO3F, LiB(C6H5)4 and/or LiCF3SO3. Preferred Components: The heterocyclic amine is selected from pyridine, substituted pyridine, quinoline, imidazole, phthalimide, pyrimidine, piperidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, triazine, triazole and/or thiazole. The organic solvent comprises at least one carbonate. The organic solvent is selected from dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, ethylmethyl carbonate, methylpropyl carbonate, ethylpropyl carbonate, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate and/or butylene carbonate.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Electrolyte: The electrolyte (E1) further comprises an additional additive selected from vinylene carbonate, fluorinated ethylene carbonate, biphenyl, substituted biphenyls and/or cyclohexyl benzene. The electrolyte (E1) comprises polymer additive (0.05-1 wt.%). In the electrolyte (E1), the polymer additive is dissolved in the solvent.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The polymer additive is poly(2-vinylpyridine). The polymer additive is repeating units of formula (ii). The polymer additive has a molecular weight of at least 5000.R2=aromatic compound or acrylate containing at least 4C (preferably benzene, toluene, styrene, chlorobenzene, fluorobenzene, chlorotoluene, fluorotoluene and butylmethacrylate);n=not defined. EXAMPLE - An electrochemical cell (test) comprising electrolyte and poly(2-vinylpyridine) was prepared. An electrochemical cell (control) comprising electrolyte was prepared. Both test/control electrochemical cells were evaluated for voltage drop properties. The results for test/control electrochemical cells were: voltage drop (mV/day) = 0.27/0.50, respectively. The test electrochemical cell had reduced voltage drop as compared to the control electrochemical cell.