Free standing SnO2/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposite anode materials were prepared for Li-ion batteries by sol-gel technique. Firstly, SnO2 precursor sols were synthesized after removing chloride ions. Then the sols coated on MWCNT buckypapers, which used as substrates to form nanocomposite electrodes by spin coating method. Sintered nanocomposite structures were then characterized by field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Electrochemical tests were performed for the produced electrodes, assembled as CR2016 cells. The effect of spin rate on the anode capacity was investigated. Coating on the MWCNT buckypapers was thought to use as mechanical support to prevent electrode failure and prevented the formation of cracks of the sol-gel thin film on the MWCNT surfaces. The results showed beneficial effects to prevent mechanical disintegration and subsequent anode pulverization of SnO2 anodes because of huge volume increase during lithium intercalation. The results indicated that the nanocrystalline SnO2/MWCNT composites are suitable for applying as an anode electrode for Li-ion batteries to increase electrochemical energy storage performance. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.