I saw a guy once that claimed you could revive dead rechargeables (I think it was NiMH at that time rather than LiIon) by applying higher than rated voltage in the normal polarity as if charging. Supposedly you could reverse degradation in the battery by doing this briefly.
Yes, I remember that.
May he rest in peace.........................
I saw something on youtube about that. They said the battery pixies clumped together and formed crystal matrices and went to sleep. Goosing the battery with a slightly higher (voltage or amperage?) would wake those lazy pixies up and inspire them to go back to work.
I think he wired two similar batteries in series to get sufficient voltage (or parallel for amperage.) He didn't use a light socket.
However: if anybody tries this and dies, don't come running to me. I am not advising anybody try this at home. Whatever you do with your battery you do at your own peril. I strongly counsel you to seek a properly trained, licensed professional--or else talk your brother-in-law into doing it for you.
Battery could also assplode too.