In-situ carbon coated carrollite spinel CuCo2S4 nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple low temperature hydrothermal route and studied as anode for lithium battery applications. The electrochemical reaction with lithium involves initial insertion of 3Li/f.u into the lattice upto 1.5 V followed by conversion reaction upto 0.01 V. A reversible capacity of 180 mAh g(-1) was obtained for CuCo2S4 after 30 cycles at C/5 rate (137 mA g(-1)). However, in-situ carbon coated CuCo2S4 shows significantly higher capacity of 375 mAh g(-1) even after 30 cycles. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.