Rechargeable Batteries with high energy density are in great demand as energy sources for various purposes, e.g. handies, zero emission electric vehicles, or load leveling in electric power. Lithium batteries are the most promising to fulfill such needs because of their intrinsic discharbe voltage with relatively light weight. This volume has been conceived keeping in mind selected fundamental topics together with the characteristics of the lithium ion battery on the market. It is thus a comprehensive overview of the new challenges facing the further development of lithium ion batteries from the standpoint of both materials science and technology. It will be useful for any scientist involved in the research and development of batteries in academia and industry, and also for graduate students entering the field, since it covers important topics from both fundamental and application points of view.