Organic cyclic carbonate additives for nonaqueous electrolyte in alkali metal electrochemical cells

A lithium electrochemical cell of either a primary or a secondary chemistry activated with an electrolyte having a cyclic carbonate of a ring size equal to or larger than a six-member ring is described. The cyclic carbonate helps to make the anode passivation film ionically conductive to thereby eliminate voltage delay during pulse discharge and to reduce Rdc. Such a cell is particularly well suited for powering an implantable medical device, such as a cardiac defibrillator.