A three-dimensional (3D) nanostructure composed of ternary polyaniline/SnO2/graphene (SnO2@PANI/rGO) nanohybrids were successfully developed and prepared as anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) by a simple dip-coating of SnO2@polyaniline (SnO2@PANI) and graphene dispersion on Cu foam. In such smart nanostructures, polyaniline (PANI) acts as the conductive matrix as well as a good binding agent of SnO2 nanoparticles and graphene sheets, greatly improving the rate performance to a great extent. The as prepared ternary nanohybrids exhibit a high reversible specific capacity of 772 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) with excellent rate capability (268 mAh g(-1) at 1000 mA g(-1)), more significantly, after 100 cycles at 100 mAg(-1), our ternary nanohybrids still maintain a high specific capacity of 749 mAh g(-1), which is much better than SnO2/rGO(458 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1)), SnO2@PANI (480 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1)) and pure SnO2 nanoparticles (300 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1)). Such intriguing electrochemical performance is mainly attributed to the strong synergistic effects among SnO2, polyaniline and graphene. It is reckoned that the present 3D SnO2@PANI/rGO nanohybrids can serve as a promising anode material for LIBs. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.