The ultrafine Mn2SnO4 nanoparticles with diameters of 5-10 nm have been prepared by thermal decomposition of precursor MnSn(OH)(6). The MnSn(OH)(6). nanoparticles precursor was synthesized by a hydrothermal microemulsion method. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction have been employed to characterize the crystal structures and morphologies of the as-prepared samples. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that the as-synthesized nanoparticles were single crystals. The thermal characterization was studied by differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry analysis measurements. Electrochemical test showed that the Mn2SnO4 nanoparticles exhibited a high initial charge-discharge capacity of 1320 mAh/g. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.