A novel nanosized Sn-Zn-O composite system as anode materials in lithium ion batteries has been prepared by partial solid-state reduction. The composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive Xray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. and the performance of the electrode was investigated. The Sn-Zn-O electrode was found to have a gravimetric charge capacity of 640 mAh g(-1), which is twice larger than that of graphite electrode. Although the Sn-Zn-O electrode exhibited poor cycle life, the performance could be improved significantly if the Sn-Zn-O was sintered at 800 degrees C, which showed a larger reversible capacity of 771 mAh g(-1) and a better performance on the reversibility at the first cycle. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.