The powders of Li4Ti5O12/CuxO composite were prepared by thermal decomposition of a mixture of Cu(NO3)(2) and the precursor Li4Ti5O12 under mixing H-2 and N-2 atmosphere and under air atmosphere, respectively. Electrochemical performance with particular attention to their high-rate charge-discharge cycling properties was examined. Experimental results showed that the Li4Ti5O12/CuxO composite displayed much better high-rate discharge capacity and cycling stability than the precursor Li4Ti5O12. The discharge capacity of the composite at 10 C rate reached 137.6 mAh/g after 100 cycles with a capacity loss of only 5.56%. It was also demonstrated that reduced atmosphere was important to the high-rate performance of the composite. (c) 2005 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.