The present disclosure relates to surface-modified, low surface area synthetic graphite with a BET surface from 1.0 to 4.0 m<2>/g and a crystallite size Lc to crystallite size La ratio of greater than 1. The disclosure furthermore relates to surface modification processes for preparing said surface-modified synthetic graphite material said graphite as well as to applications for this graphite, particularly as a negative electrode material in lithium-ion batteries.