NOVELTY - Stabilized electrode comprises a metal oxide or lithium-metal-oxide electrode material, where the electrode is formed by contacting a surface of the electrode material, prior to cell assembly, with an aqueous or a non-aqueous acid solution having a pH greater than 4 but less than 7 and containing a stabilizing salt to etch the surface of the electrode material and introduce stabilizing anions and cations from the salt into the surface while the structure of the bulk of the electrode material remains unchanged.    USE - The stabilized electrode is useful in a non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell, which is useful in a non-aqueous lithium battery (all claimed), where the batteries are used to power a wide range of applications such as portable telecommunications equipment, computers, medical devices, electric vehicles and hybrid-electric vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The stabilized electrode exhibits high capacity, cycling efficiency and stability when charged to high potentials.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Stabilized electrode comprises a metal oxide or lithium-metal-oxide electrode material, where the electrode is formed by contacting a surface of the electrode material, prior to cell assembly, with an aqueous or a non-aqueous acid solution having a pH greater than 4 but less than 7 and containing a stabilizing salt to etch the surface of the electrode material and introduce stabilizing anions and cations from the salt into the surface while the structure of the bulk of the electrode material remains unchanged, and the stabilizing salt comprises fluoride and at least one cationic material consisting of ammonium, phosphorus, titanium, silicon, zirconium, aluminum, or boron. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell comprising an anode and a cathode in contact with a lithium-containing electrolyte in a non-aqueous liquid solvent, where one or both of the anode and cathode are the stabilized electrode; and    (2) a non-aqueous lithium battery comprising the electrically connected electrochemical cells.