Lignosulfonate/poly(2-ethylaniline)　(LS-PEA)　composite　nanospheres　were　prepared　via　in　situ　polymerization　of　2-ethylaniline　(EA)　with　lignosulfonate　(LS)　as　a　dispersant.　LS-PEA　nanospheres　with　an　average　diameter　of　155　nm　were　obtained　at　an　optimal　LS　concentration　of　20　wt.%.　Subsequently,　nitrogen-containing　carbon　nanospheres　were　fabricated　via　direct　pyrolysis　of　the　LS-PEA　composite　nanospheres　at　600-800　degrees　C.　The　carbon　nanospheres　prepared　by　pyrolysis　were　used　as　anodes　of　lithium-ion　batteries.　The　first　charge　and　discharge　capacity　of　carbon　nanospheres　prepared　at　700　degrees　C　at　current　densities　of　60　and　100　mA　g(-1)　were　980　and　432　mAh　g(-1),　and　764　and　342　mAh　g(-1),　respectively.　The　batteries　still　owned　a　high　capacity　of　353　and　296　mAh　g(-1)　after　20　cycles.　The　results　indicated　that　these　nitrogen-containing　carbon　nanospheres　could　be　used　as　a　promising　candidate　for　electrode　materials　of　lithium-ion　batteries.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.