Hollow carbon@SnO2@graphene composite was fabricated by hard template method combined with layer by layer self assembly modification method based on internal-external double protection strategy. The similar to 45 nm thick active SnO2 existed uniformly between the similar to 20 nm thick carbon layer and graphene layer to form a three-dimensional porous composite structure. The prepared composite electrode exhibited stable and high capacity of 1015 mAh g(-1) over 600 cycles at 500 mAg(-1). (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.