The recent progress of investigation in this laboratory on some interesting electrolytes for lithium ion batteries is summarized. Nano-Al2O3 filler was found to act as a solid solvent in the LiClO4/polyacrylonitrile electrolyte system. Novel room temperature molten salt was prepared and showed a series of interesting electrochemical properties. Addition of vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC) into propylene carbonate based electrolyte helped to form a compact solid electrolyte interphase layer on graphite anode during the first discharge process. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.