One　step　sol-gel　route　was　developed　for　synthesizing　Li　2ZnTi3O8/C　nanocomposite,　in　which　a　thin　layer　of　carbon　was　coated　on　the　surface　of　Li2ZnTi3O　8　nanoparticles.　These　nanoparticles　were　high　crystalline　and　their　size　was　found　to　be　ca.　20-30　nm.　The　synthesized　Li2ZnTi　3O8/C　nanocomposite　was　used　as　an　anode　for　rechargeable　lithium-ion　batteries　and　exhibited　a　high　reversible　charge-discharge　capacity,　excellent　cycling　stability　and　high　rate　performance.　A　large　capacity　of　284　mAh　g-1　can　be　kept　after　200　cycles　at　a　current　density　of　0.2　A　g-1.　These　results　can　be　attributed　to　the　intrinsic　characteristics　of　Li2ZnTi3O8/C　nanocomposite.　A　thin　layer　of　carbon　on　the　surface　of　Li2ZnTi3O8　nanoparticles　could　improve　significantly　the　conductivity　and　the　anode　made　of　nanoparticles　greatly　decreased　the　diffusion　distance　for　lithium　ions　and　electrons　in　the　solid　state.　©　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.