High performance nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) materials decorated with MnO hybrid (MnO@NC) composites with a nanopeapod appearance were synthesized by with a simple hydrothermal method and insuit-polymeric route. As an anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), the nanopeapod structure of MnO@NC composites with internal void spaces exhibits good rate capability, high conductivity and excellent cycling stability. After 200 cycles, the nanopeapod composites yield a specific capacity of 775.4 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) and a high-rate capacity of 559.7 mAh g(-1) at 1000 mA g(-1). The proposed synthesis of nanopeapod structure composites with an internal room is an efficient design with excellent electrode materials for rechargeable LIBs. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.