A porous Ni-3(PO4)(2) thin film as binder-free anode of a lithium ion battery was prepared using a new plasma assisted electrolytic deposition process. The total synthesizing time needed was only around two minutes. The reversible capacity reached 1400 mu Ah/Cm-2 and remained at 750 mu Ah/cm(2) under 400 mu A/cm(2) after 40 cycles. Even a high charge/discharge current density (1200 mu A/cm(2)) was applied, the capacity could stay at 600 mu Ah/cm(2), higher than that of most anodes reported. Apart from the high performance, the advantages in environmentally-friendly fabrication process and cost effectiveness suggest that the Ni-3(PO4)(2) thin film has potential to be used as improved lithium ion battery anodes.