In this paper, we developed a dual strategy, the nanostructure engineering of active material and the proper choice of binder, to achieve excellent lithium storage performance of transition metal oxides. alpha-Fe2O3 nanoellipses with a mean size of 180-230 nm (edge length) and 140-170 nm (edge width) were fabricated by a simple hydrothermal method in the presence of glycine. When tested as anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), the alpha-Fe2O3 nanoellipse electrode with sodium alginate (SA) binder exhibits greatly enhanced performance for lithium storage. The capacity could be retained as high as 1164 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 100 mA g(-1) for over 60 cycles. Even cycled at high current densities of 2000-5000 mA g(-1), high capacities of 443-628 mA h g(-1) can be achieved, whereas the electrode with the conventional poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) binder suffers from rapid capacity decay under the same test conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.