TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Device: The device (D1) further comprises: a separator positioned between the cathode and anode, the cathode includes a lithium metal oxide and the anode includes at least one material selected from carbon and lithium metal (preferably lithium metal). The device includes the anode and the electrolyte includes an additive selected to form a passivation layer on the electrode. The electrolyte contains disiloxanes in an amount of more than 50 wt.%. The electrolyte has an ionic conductivity higher than 2x 10-4 Siemens/cm at 24 degrees C.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The electrolyte includes an organoborate salt, and at least one additive selected from: vinyl carbonate, vinyl ethylene carbonate, ethylene sulfite, 1,3-dimethylbutadiene, styrene carbonate, aromatic carbonates, vinyl pyrrole, vinyl piperazine, vinyl piperidine, and/or vinyl pyridine.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Compounds: In the disiloxane compound (I): the first substituent is selected from: a first side chain that includes a cyclic carbonate moiety, and a first cross link linking the disiloxane to a second siloxane and that includes a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety. The first substituent is a first side chain that includes a cyclic carbonate moiety. The disiloxane excludes or includes one poly(alkylene oxide) moiety. The disiloxane is selected from 10 compounds as given in the specification, e.g. 4-(3-(dimethyl-trimethylsilanylmethyl-silanyl)-propoxymethyl)-(1,3)dioxolan-2-one (IIa); a compound of formula Si(CH3)3-O-Si(CH3)2-O(CH2CH2O)n-CH3 (IIb); a compound of formula R1-Si(R3)(R5)-O-Si(R2)(R4)(R6) (IIc); or a compound of formula H3C(OCH2CH2)n-O-Si(CH3)2-O-Si(CH3)2-O(CH2CH2O)mCH3 (IId). The second silicon is linked to a second substituent selected from: a second side chain that includes a cyclic carbonate moiety, or a second side chain that includes a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety. The second siloxane is a second disiloxane. The first substituent is a first side chain that includes the cyclic carbonate moiety and the second substituent is the second side chain that includes the cyclic carbonate moiety; or the first substituent is a first side chain that includes the cyclic carbonate moiety and the second substituent is the second side chain that includes the poly(alkylene oxide) moiety; or the first substituent is a first cross link that includes the poly(alkylene oxide) moiety and the second substituent is the second side chain that includes the cyclic carbonate moiety; or the first substituent is a first cross link that includes the poly(alkylene oxide) moiety and the second substituent is the second side chain that includes the poly(alkylene oxide) moiety.m and n=1-12;R1-R4=alkyl or aryl;R5=moiety selected from moiety of formula -O-(CH2-CH(R10)-O)n-R11 (i), moiety of formula (ii), or a moiety of formula -R14-O-(CH2-CH(R16)-O)n-R15-second siloxane (iii);R6=alkyl, aryl, or a moiety of formula -R17-O-(CH2-CH(R18)-O)q-R19 (iv) or a moiety of formula (v);R10, R16 and R18=H, alkyl or aryl;R11=alkyl or aryl;R12=organic spacer (preferably organic spacer including at least one -CH2- group);p and r=1 or 2;R14, R15 and R17=absent or a spacer group;R19=alkyl or aryl;q=1-12;R20=organic spacer.