TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The silane comprises one of many silanes included in the electrolyte. The electrolyte further includes at least one secondary silane of formula (Si(R)4-z(R1)z). The at least one salt is lithium or organoborate salt, preferably lithium perchlorate, lithium tetrafluoroborate, lithium hexafluoroarsenate, lithium hexafluorophosphate, lithium trifluoromethylsulfonate, lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, lithium tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide, ethanesulfonamide, 1,1,2,2,2-pentafluoro-N-((pentafluoroethyl)sulfonyl)-, lithium salt, lithium alkyl fluorophosphate or lithium bis(chelato)borate. The molar concentration of the salt is 0.1-3 M. The cathode include a material consisting of: lithium vanadium oxide of formula (LixVOy), lithium cobalt dioxide, lithium nickel oxide, lithium nickel cobalt oxide of formula (LiNi1-xCoyMexO2), lithium manganese nickel oxide (LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2), lithium manganese cobalt nickel oxide ((LiMn0.3Co0.3Ni0.3O2), lithium iron phosphate, lithium manganese oxide, lithium iron oxide, and/or lithium manganese oxide of formula (LiMc0.5Mn1.5O4). The anode includes a material consisting of graphite, carbon, lithium titanium oxide, tin alloys, silicon alloys, intermetallic compounds, and/or lithium metal.z = 1-3;R1 = (halo)alkyl, (halo)aryl, (halo)alkoxy or substituted (1,3)dioxolan-2-one compound of formula (III-D);R = (halo)alkoxy, (III-D) or -R94-O-(CH2-CH(R95)-O-)p-R96;R90 = organic spacer;R94 = nil or organic spacer;R95 = H, alkyl or aryl;R96 = alkyl or aryl;p = 1-12;r = 1-2;Me = Al, Mg, Ti, B or Si; andMc = divalent metal.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: The electrochemical device includes an anode and the electrolyte includes an additive comprising a passivation layer on the anode. The electrochemical device is lithium secondary battery where the electrolyte activates at least one lithium metal oxide cathode and at least one anode.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The electrolyte further includes: at least one additive consisting of vinyl carbonate (VC), vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC), ethylene sulfite, 1,3-dimethylbutadiene, styrene carbonate, aromatic carbonates, vinyl pyrrole, vinyl piperazine, vinyl piperidine, vinyl pyridine and/or their mixtures. The electrolyte includes a lithium bis(oxalato)borate salt and at least one additive consisting of VC or VEC.