Disclosed herein is a method comprising mixing an electroactive particle with a carbonaceous material to form a particle mixture that comprises a carbon coated particle; subjecting the carbon coated particle to a pulsed voltage between parallel plate electrodes or between rolls of a roll mill; and converting the carbon coated particle to a graphite coated particle via localized Joule heating. Disclosed herein too is an apparatus comprising a mixing device that is operative to mix an electroactive particle with a carbonaceous material to form a particle mixture that comprises a carbon coated particle; and a device for applying a pulsed voltage to the particle mixture; where the applying of the pulsed voltage is conducted when the particle mixture is located between opposing plate electrodes or between opposing rolls of a roll mill; where the device for applying the pulsed voltage converts the carbon coated particle into a graphite coated particle.