Three-dimensional (3D) alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticle anchored graphene aerogel (Fe2O3@GA) composites were assembled by a hydrothermal method using Fe(OH)3 colloids and graphene oxides as starting materials. It was found that the Fe2O3 nanoparticles were uniformly embedded into the 3D networks of graphene aerogels and the resulting composites contained meso- and macro-scale pores. Remarkably, the composites possessed much higher surface area (S-BET = 212.5 m(2) g(-1)) and larger pore volume.(Vp = 0.2073 cm(3) g(-1)) than those of pure Fe2O3 (Sur =19.8 m(2) g(-1), v(p) = 0.1770 cm(3) g(-1)). The Fe2O3@GA composites used as electrode materials for lithium ion batteries were demonstrated to exhibit high reversible capacity at large current densities and excellent cycling stabilities. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.