The effect of maleic anhydride (MA) as a new film-forming additive in gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)-based electrolytes for use in Li-ion batteries has been studied to advance the understanding of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation on graphite electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed that even small amounts of MA (up to 4 wt.%) improved the lithium intercalation into graphite. The effect of MA was also verified by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In situ subtractively normalized interfacial Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (SNIFTIRS) and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) allowed identification of gas formation and decomposition products during the SEI formation. GBL-based electrolytes with MA showed both, higher cycling efficiency and cycle life of graphite electrodes. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.