Ultra-small Fe3O4 nanocrystals (NCs)/garphene nanosheets (GNSs) composites have been synthesized through a facile gel-like film (GF) assisted method in this work. Fe3O4 NCs with particle size similar to 10 nm homogeneously dispersed on 2D GNSs. Profiting from the ultra-small Fe3O4 NCs and GNSs, the composites demonstrate superior long-term and high-rate performance as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Even at the current density of 5 A g(-1), the reversible capacity still maintains 323.4 mAh g(-1) after 700 cycles. This work might enlighten us on exploring preferable strategies to develop advanced metal oxides NCs/GNSs composites anode materials for lithium ion batteries or other energy storage devices. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.