Lithium ion-containing organic electrolyte

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A solvent-electrolyte for use in a lithium electrodeposition process comprising an ionizable solute of lithium fluoroborate dissolved in a solvent mixture of methylene chloride and at least one additional solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfolane and the alkyl-substituted derivatives thereof.
2.
The solvent-electrolyte of claim 1 wherein said lithium fluoroborate is present in a concentration of about 3 percent by weight based on the weight of the solvent mixture up to saturation of the lithium fluoroborate in the solvent mixture.
3.
The solvent-electrolyte of claim 1 wherein the at least one additional solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfolane and the alkyl-substituted derivatives thereof is between about 20 and about 80 volume percent of the electrolyte solvent mixture.
4.
The solvent-electrolyte of claim 2 wherein the at least one additional solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfolane and the alkyl-substituted derivative thereof is betwen about 20 and about 80 volume percent of electrolyte solvent mixture.
5.
The solvent-electrolyte of claim 4 wherein the at least one additional solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfolane and the alkyl-substituted derivatives thereof is between about 50 and about 60 volume percent of the electrolyte solvent mixture.
6.
A process for electrodeposition of lithium from a nonaqueous electrolyte wherein said electrodeposition is carried out with an electrolyte of lithium fluoroborate dissolved in a solvent mixture of methylene chloride and at least one additional solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfolane and the alkyl-substituted derivatives thereof.
7.
The process of claim 6 wherein said lithium fluoroborate is present in a concentration of about 3 percent by weight based on the weight of the solvent mixture up to saturation of the lithium fluoroborate in the solvent mixture.
8.
The process of claim 6 wherein the at least one additional solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfolane and the alkyl-substituted derivatives thereof is between about 20 and about 80 volume percent of the electrolyte solvent mixture