Zn-doped Fe3O4 particles with carbon coating are prepared by combining a co-precipitation method with an efficient carbonization process using pyrrole as carbon source. The Zn/Fe molar ratio is controlled by adjusting the addition amount of Zn and Fe precursors. Among the carbon-coated products, the sample with a Zn/Fe molar ratio of 0.05:1.95 achieves a reversible capacity of 713.6 mAh g(-1) after 60 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g(-1) and the capacities of 670.9, 625.0, 599.1, 566.2, 454.2, and 223.3 mAh g(-1) at 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 mA g(-1), respectively. The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the improved electronic conductivity and Li-ion diffusion kinetics resulted from the Zn-doping in Fe3O4 and the nitrogen-doped carbon coating for buffering the volume change and improving the electronic conductivity. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.