The composite of hard carbon and nano-graphite (HCNG) is prepared by the pyrolysis of sucrose with the catalysis agent. In HCNG, nano graphite particles are imbedded in hard carbon. HCNG is used as the anode material for lithium ion battery and shows a low and flat discharge platform, which is similar to that of graphite. HCNG displays much higher capacity (450 mAh/g) than that of commercial graphite (CG) anode (360 mAh/g). Besides, much better rate performance is obtained with HCNG than CO. It is supposed that the increased capacity rises from the Li ion storage on the surface of the graphite nanocrystals embedded in amorphous carbon matrix. The improvement of the rate capability results from the small particle size of graphite phase and more ion transportation paths supplied by the amorphous carbon. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.