Inverse spinel SnFe2O4 nanoparticles with the size distribution of 100-300 nm and inverse spinel structure are prepared by facile co-precipitation (SFO1) and solvothermal (SFO2) methods, respectively, and evaluated as new anode materials of lithium ion batteries for the first time. Compared with commercial graphite, the SnFe2O4 anodes exhibit higher initial charge/discharge capacities of 780/1361 (SFO1) and 670/940 (SFO2) mAh g(-1), and maintain the excellent reversible capacities of 534/540 (SFO1) and 636/640 (SFO2) mAh g(-1), with the charge capacity retention of 68.5% for SFO1 and dramatically high of 943% for SFO2 after 150 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g(-1), (0.09 C), respectively. And they also exhibit excellent specific capacities even at 1000 mA g(-1), (0.9 C). In addition, the reaction mechanism of lithium ion and SnFe2O4 is discussed based on the results of cycle voltammetry (CV) experiment and XRD patterns of the active materials after cycling, and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) result indicates that the inverse spinel structure facilitates the diffusion of Li+ ion in the SnFe2O4 anode material. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.