Three dimensional SnO 2 -based nanocomposites, i.e., SnO 2 nanoparticles anchored on polyaniline nanoplates@reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (SPG) via p-p stacking, present excellent cyclability and high capacity with a reversible storage capacity of 573.6 mA h g À1 accompanied by coulombic efficiency of 99.26% over 50 cycles when used as an anode in a lithium ion battery.Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are rechargeable systems which can supply high energy density, flexibility and long lifespan, 1 which has aroused great interest in developing LIBs for meeting the power demands of our modern lifestyles. 2 Great efforts are underway to develop new electrode materials and improve existing battery technologies for the next generation of LIBs. Progress in materials chemistry and electrochemistry is leading to the use of nanomaterials for LIBs, 3 which can provide various advantages over comparable bulk materials in improving the electrochemical performance of LIBs, due to a great deal of active sites and the shortened diffusion path for electrons and Li-ions. 2 SnO 2 -based nanostructured materials are triggering significant research efforts as high-capacity anodes for LIBs, due to their low discharge potential, high theoretical capacities, and low toxicity. 4 However, lithiation and delithiation of the electrode materials in LIBs will produce great strain in the host material, leading to a pulverization problem, 4b especially for SnO 2 -based anode materials in LIBs. The biggest challenge associated with the use of high-capacity SnO 2 anodes is to overcome the extremely large volume change produced by the alloying reaction between Sn with Li during Li + insertion process to form Li 4.4 Sn, 4c which can produce a molar volume change of 311%. 4a It will cause severe pulverization problems when using SnO 2 -based anode materials, thus leading to a rapid reduction in capacity. 1 It has been demonstrated that design and use of nanostructured electrode materials is an effective approach. 5 Another strategy is to use nanocomposite electrode materials. 1,4c,4d,4e,6 It is known that carbon materials are very stable anode materials in LIBs due to the small volume change during Li-ion insertion/extraction. 7 Recently, graphene-based materials (among the carbonaceous materials) have been demonstrated to be one of the promising alternatives as anode materials in LIBs, because graphene has superior electrical conductivity, high surface area, and chemical stability. 8 Electronically conducting polymers such as polyaniline (PANI) are particularly interesting for applications as energy storage materials in batteries and supercapacitors because it has been demonstrated that these materials have high theoretical capacity ranging from approximately 100 to 140 mA h g À1 , and can be oxidized and reduced at very high rates. 9 PANI is one of the most studied conducting polymers due to its good electrical conductivity, environmental stability, excellent mechanical stability, and ease of processing. 10 Constructing nanostructured SnO 2 nanocm...