NOVELTY - Stabilizing (M1) a metal oxide or lithium-metal-oxide electrode involves contacting a surface of the electrode, prior to cell assembly, with an aqueous or a non-aqueous acid solution having a pH greater than 4 to less than 7 and containing a stabilizing salt, for a time and at a temperature to etch the surface of the electrode and introduces stabilizing anions and cations from the salt into the surface, while the structure of the bulk of the electrode remains unchanged. The stabilizing salt comprises fluoride and at least one cationic material selected from e.g. silicon.    USE - For stabilizing metal oxide or lithium-metal-oxide electrode useful in non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell and non-aqueous lithium battery (claimed); and in notably rechargeable lithium-ion cells and batteries used to power a wide range of applications such as portable telecommunications equipment, computers, medical devices, electric vehicles and hybrid-electric vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The method improves the surface stability of metal-oxide and lithium-metal-oxide electrodes for non-aqueous lithium cells and batteries. The lithium-metal-oxide electrodes with layered- and spinel-type structures are chemically preconditioned prior to cell assembly or in-situ in an electrochemical cell to improve the capacity, cycling efficiency and stability of lithium cells and batteries when charged to high potentials.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Stabilizing (M1) a metal oxide or lithium-metal-oxide electrode involves contacting a surface of the electrode, prior to cell assembly, with an aqueous or a non-aqueous acid solution having a pH greater than 4 to less than 7 and containing a stabilizing salt, for a time and at a temperature to etch the surface of the electrode and introduces stabilizing anions and cations from the salt into the surface, while the structure of the bulk of the electrode remains unchanged. The stabilizing salt comprises fluoride and at least one cationic material selected from ammonium, phosphorus, titanium, silicon, zirconium, aluminum, and boron. INDEPENDENTS CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a stabilized electrode (E1) made according to the method (M1);    (2) a non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell (G1) comprising an anode, a lithium-containing electrolyte in a non-aqueous liquid solvent, and a cathode, where one or both of the anode and cathode are the stabilized electrode (E1);    (3) a non-aqueous lithium battery comprising several electrically connected electrochemical cells (E1).