The influence of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) on the electrochemical and thermal properties of graphite anodes is examined. The dQ/dV graph of graphite/Li cells shows that the electrochemical reduction peak of an electrolyte shifts to higher potential in the presence of FEC. The DSC results for graphite anodes cycled in FEC-containing electrolytes clearly exhibit that an exothermic peak at around 120 degrees C mostly disappears. It is demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) that SEI formed by the electrochemical reduction of FEC consists of a relatively high proportion of LiF and gives low interfacial resistance for graphite/Li/Li cells. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.