In order to improve the negative electrode characteristics of a graphite electrode in a propylene carbonate (PC)-containing electrolyte, we have prepared a graphite negative electrode coated with a water-soluble anionic polymer as a binder for composite graphite electrodes. The electrochemical characteristics of the coated graphite were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and charge-discharge cycle tests. The coated graphite negative electrode showed a stable Li+ ion intercalation/deintercalation reaction without the exfoliation of the graphene layers caused by the co-intercalation of the PC solvent in the LiClO4/PC solution. The charge-discharge characteristic of the coated graphite negative electrode in a PC-containing electrolyte was almost the same as that in ethylene carbonate-based electrolyte. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.