New mixtures of 3-(2-methoxyethoxy)propanenitrile, fluoroethylene carbonate and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether are introduced as safe electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries. The electrolytes with 30 wt% 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether can own high safety and better wettability to separator and electrodes than the conventional electrolyte. The oxidation potentials of these electrolytes are about 4.8 V versus Li/Li+, and their conductivity can reach 5.42 mS cm(-1) at 25 degrees C. Graphite/LiMn2O4 coin cells are used to evaluate the electrochemical performances, and this kind of safe electrolytes can exhibit better rate and cycle performances than the conventional electrolyte. These results indicate that such ternary electrolytes have a great potential for practical application. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.