A low-cost and green method to get electrode materials with wonderful electrochemical performance is decisive for the development of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Here it's the first time to synthesize rod-like porous Fe2O3 coated with carbon (Fe2O3/C) by using biomolecules in spinach juice as soft templates and carbon resource. The different initial concentrations of Fe3+ can affect the morphologies and electrochemical properties of samples. When the initial concentration of Fe3+ is 0.4M, the sample (Fe2O3/C-2) exhibits favorable performance of lithium storage owing to the existence of carbon with excellent electroconductivity and the porous rode-like structure which can relieve the large volume change and provide pathway for Li+ transport during cycles. The initial capacity of sample is 1405 mA h g(-1) while the capacity maintained 581 mA h g(-1) after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A g(-1). The excellent electrochemical performances of Fe2O3/C-2 make it a promising anode material for LIBs. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.