It is demonstrated that the rate capacities of TiO2 anatase nanoparticles can be improved substantially by annealing in NH3 at 450-500 degrees C. At a high nominal rate of 25C, the average discharge capacity of specimens annealed in NH3 at 450 degrees C for 7 h is more than double of that of the controlled specimens annealed in dry air under the same heat treatment condition. A critical comparison with literature shows that this simple and cost-effective low-temperature nitridation process can achieve high-rate capacities that are better than those reported in prior comparable studies. The enhanced high-rate capacities are attributed to moderate surface nitridation with less-disordered nitridated regions, which may enhance the surface electronic conductivity without forming discrete, nanoscale, surface amorphous films to block the lithium transport. Surface nitridation was confirmed by XPS measurements. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.