TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: In the presence of electrolyte: the adhesive layer is arranged to substantially not deform; and the base layer comprises many first and second portions, where the first portions are thicker than the second portions. The base layer has a thickness of 20-60 mu m prior to contact with the electrolyte and the first portions of the base layer have a thickness of 20-300 mu m. The sealing tape has an adhesion force of 2-9 kgf/cm2. The electrode assembly includes a finishing part, and the sealing tape is wound around a quarter or more of the outer surface of the electrode assembly including the finishing part. Preferred Method: The contact with the electrolyte is arranged to cause the base layer to shrink greater in an axial direction than in the winding direction, where the contact with the electrolyte is arranged to cause the base layer to shrink by 40-64%, preferably 50-70% in the axial direction and 0-5% in the winding direction. The method further comprises performing at least one of a formation process and an aging process, where optionally the aging process is performed by exposing the assembled battery to an environment at 50-70 degrees C for 18-36 hours.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The electrolyte includes a non-polar organic solvent, where optionally the non-polar organic solvent includes carbonate, optionally at least one of dimethyl carbonate electrolyte, diethyl carbonate or dipropyl carbonate, where the electrolyte comprises 10-60 wt.% of a carbonate solvent as the non-polar organic solvent.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The base layer is a shrinkable polymer film, where optionally the base layer comprises oriented polystyrene, polystyrene, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl alcohol, polycarbonate and/or polyethylene vinyl acetate. EXAMPLE - Lithium cobalt dioxide used as a positive electrode active material, polyvinylidene fluoride used as a binder and carbon used as a conductive material were mixed at a weight ratio of 92:4:4, and the mixture was dispersed in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone so as to form a positive electrode slurry. Then positive electrode slurry was coated with an aluminum foil having a thickness of 20 mu m and was dried and rolled to form a positive electrode. Artificial graphite used as a negative electrode active material, styrene-butadiene rubber used as a binder, and carboxymethyl cellulose used as a thickener were mixed at a weight ratio of 96:2:2, and the mixture was dispersed in water so as to form a negative electrode slurry. Copper foil having a thickness of about 15 mu m was coated with the negative electrode slurry and was dried and rolled to form a negative electrode. Polyethylene/polypropylene porous film having a thickness of 20 mu m was used as a separator. The separator was placed between the cathode and anode. Then, the separator, cathode and anode were wound, and a sealing tape was wound around them to manufacture an electrode assembly. 35 mu m ( plus minus 0.03 mu m) thickness shrinkable polystyrene (oriented polystyrene) film (elongation: transverse direction (TD) 45%, machine direction (MD) 210%, shrinkage: 52%, thermal shrinkage: TD 66%, MD 5%) coated with a 15 mu m thickness poly methyl methacrylate adhesive was used as the sealing tape. The electrode assembly wound by a jelly-roll method was inserted in a cylindrical aluminum battery case, and non-aqueous electrolyte was injected into the case. Then, the case was sealed to give a secondary battery.