In this paper, we report on a study of the electrode/electrolyte interfaces of a LiCoO2/C cell using XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). The originality of our work lies in detailed investigations step by step during the first cycle. The results have shown that the formation process of the SEI takes place in different successive stages that are dependent on the potential of the cell. It clearly appears that SEI formation continues in the potential range where lithium ion intercalation proceeds in the carbon electrode. Salt degradation products are formed after solvent decomposition ones. Concerning the LiCoO2/electrolyte interface, the results obtained have shown the formation of a very thin film on the active material but not on the binders. In all cases, the novel XPS approach applied in the lab, combining core peaks and valence band analyses, allows a precise characterization of the main chemical species of the interface layers. On the basis of these results and in conjunction with literature data, the degradation mechanisms have been discussed. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.