METHOD FOR CHARGING A LITHIUM ION BATTERY

A method for charging a lithium ion battery includes the steps of: 1) determining a maximum charging current I 0 and a lowest anode potential · of the lithium ion battery at which no lithium precipitation occurs; 2) charging the lithium ion battery at a constant current of I 1 which is greater than I 0 for a charging time t 1 ; 3) discharging the lithium ion battery at a constant current of I 2 which is less than I 0 for a discharging time t 2 , 5¤t 1 /t 2 ¤50; 4) repeating steps 2) and 3) until a cutoff voltage of the lithium ion battery reaches V 0 and standing the lithium ion battery for a standing time t 3 ; and 5) charging the lithium ion battery at a constant current of I 0 until the cutoff voltage of the lithium ion battery reaches V 0 and charging the lithium ion battery to a cutoff current of I 3 at a constant voltage.