REPLENISHED NEGATIVE ELECTRODES FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES

A method is provided for activating a secondary battery having a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a microporous separator between the negative and positive electrodes permeated with carrier-ion containing electrolyte, the negative electrode having anodically active silicon or an alloy thereof. The method includes transferring carrier ions from the positive electrode to the negative electrode to at least partially charge the secondary battery, and transferring carrier ions from an auxiliary electrode to the positive electrode, to provide the secondary battery with a positive electrode end of discharge voltage Vand a negative electrode end of discharge so voltage Vwhen the cell is at a predefined Vvalue, the value of Vcorresponding to a voltage at which the state of charge of the positive electrode is at least 95% of its coulombic capacity and Vis at least 0.4 V (vs Li) but less than 0.9 V (vs Li).