The invention discloses a method for manufacturing a lithium cell electrode tab, which comprises the following steps: a, cutting a metal strip of an electrode tab substrate into sections; b, performing ultrasonic cleaning; c, drying; d, performing surface treatment on the metal strip in a treating fluid; e, rinsing the metal strip by using deionized water; f, drying; g, fixing a sealant with the metal strip by PET and a double faced adhesive tape to ensure that the dimension reaches requirements; h, hot pressing, i, cooling at room temperature; and j, cutting a side-layer material into a single electrode tab. Due to the addition of the pretreatment and the surface treatment of the electrode tab base material metal strip or the surface treatment of the electrode tab base material metal strip, oxides on the surface of the metal strip can be removed effectively, and the surface activity of the metal strip is enhanced, so that the binding strength between the metal surface and the sealant is improved, the capability for resisting electrolyte attack is strengthened, the sealing property of battery cells is improved, and the service life of the lithium cell is prolonged from 3 to 6 months to 3 years.