In this work we present first cycle charge/discharge performance of synthetic graphite and petroleum coke and the influence of the binder used for the preparation of the electrodes on the irreversible capacity losses and an investigation of LiMn2O4/graphite and LiMn2O4/petroleum coke cells in respect to the cathode to anode electrode mass balance using three-electrode cells. The irreversible capacity of synthetic graphite electrodes varies from about 85 to 215 mAh/g depending on the binder material. Li-ion cells assembled after the optimization of the cathode/anode material mass ratio r showed first discharge capacities of about 100 and 102 mAh/g, for LiMn2O4/graphite and LiMn2O4/petroleum coke respectively. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.