The present disclosure provides an electrolyte additive. The electrolyte additive comprises: maleimide derivative, bis-maleimide derivative, or combinations there of The structural formulas of maleimide derivative and bis-maleimide derivative respectively are: wherein, R1, R2 are selected from hydrogen atom and halogen atoms, R3 is selected from silicon containing group, nitrogen containing group, fluorine containing group, phosphorus containing group, and a repeating ethoxy group. The present disclosure also provides an electrolyte liquid and a lithium ion battery using the electrolyte additive.