The performance of a lithium-ion battery (LiB) fabricated with a tin-phosphate glass anode was studied as well as the characteristics of the anode. It was confirmed that the total positive charge of Sn2+ ions in the glass anode is compensated by a reaction with lithium during the first charge by forming tin crystals. It was observed after the first charge that the glass is converted into a nanocomposite in which the metallic crystals are embedded in an amorphous lithium phosphate matrix. A half-cell fabricated with the glass anode showed a reproducible capacity of 550 mAh/g at room temperature, which was much higher than that of the cell with a graphite anode. The cell also showed a steady capacity of 160 mAh/g even at -20 degrees C with no deposition of lithium dendrites. A full-cell fabricated with the glass anode and LiMn2O4 cathode showed a good life cycle performance at 60 degrees C along with no degradation in its life cycle performance. The tin-phosphate glass is a promising candidate as a new anode material that realizes LiBs with a high energy density that can be used over a wide temperature range. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.