In this work, tin oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized by a facile and low-cost urea-assisted autocombustion method in combination with subsequent calcination at a low temperature (350 degrees C/5 h), which produces porous structure and less nanometer size of particles (5-10 nm). These nanoparticles were employed as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries, delivering better electrochemical properties of high reversible lithium storage capacity (618 mAh g(-1) after 40 cycles at 0.05 C) and high rate capability (as high as 323 mAh g(-1) at 4.8 C), indicating potential application for lithium-ion batteries. The microstructural change in the electrode corresponding to the change in electrochemical behavior was also studied by field-emission transmission electron microscopy, and the results supported the notion that the finer the sizes of the SnO2 nanoparticles better the cycling stability. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.