With the extensive applications of lithium-ion batteries, many batteries explosion accidents were reported. The thermal stability of lithium-ion battery electrolyte could substantially affect the safety of lithium-ion battery. The C80 micro calorimeter was used to study the thermal stability of several commonly used organic solvents and electrolytes. The samples were heated in argon atmosphere and air atmosphere, respectively. The chemical reaction kinetics was supposed to fit by an Arrhenius law, then the self-accelerating decomposition temperature was calculated. It is found that most of the samples are stable in argon atmosphere while decomposing in air atmosphere, and the single organic solvent is more stable than the electrolyte generally. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.