Spherical SnSb alloy powders with an average particle size of about 10 mu m were prepared from Sn and Sb oxides by carbothermal reduction. The synthesized SnSb alloy shows low initial capacity loss (ca. 150 mAh/g) and high reversible capacity (around 800 mAh/g). The capacity fade of the SnSb alloy during the charge/discharge process comes mainly from the Sb component rather than Sn component. Microsized SnSb alloy exhibits a much better cycling performance when cycled at 40 degrees C than that at ambient temperature (ca. 30 degrees C), while it tends to be worse when cycled at 55 degrees C. The rate capability of SnSb alloy was also investigated.