Three types of transition metal oxide/carbon composites including Fe(2)O(3)/C, NiO/C and CuO/Cu(2)O/C synthesized via spray pyrolysis were used as anode for lithium ion battery application in conjunction with two types of ionic liquid: 1 M LiN(SO(2)CF(3))(2) (LiTFSI) in 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(fluorosulfonlyl)imide (EMI-FSI) or 1-methyl-1-propylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (Py13-FSI). From the electrochemical measurements, the composite electrodes using Py13-FSI as electrolyte show much better electrochemical performance than those using EMI-FSI as electrolyte in terms of reversibility. The Fe(2)O(3)/C composite shows the highest specific capacity and the best capacity retention (425 mAh g(-1)) under a current density of 50 mA g(-1) for up to 50 cycles, as compared with the NiO/C and CuO/Cu(2)O/C composites. The present research demonstrates that Py13-FSI could be used as an electrolyte for transition metal oxides in lithium-ion batteries.