Structural changes in the surface of graphite composite electrodes in the 1st charge/discharge cycle were studied by ex situ and in situ Raman spectroscopy. The influence of the salt in the electrolyte solution and the volume of this solution injected into electrochemical cells on the structural degradation of the graphite surface was investigated. The surface crystallinity of graphite was degraded in LiPF6-based electrolyte solution with only a cycle of intercalation/de-intercalation reactions of Li+, compared to that in a LiClO4-based electrolyte. In situ Raman measurements revealed that structural disordering of the graphite surface should occur in an early stage of the initial intercalation reaction of Li+ into graphite. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.