A novel cocoon-like Fe(2)o(3)@C nanoparticle was fabricated via a facile hydrothermally molecular self assembly procedure. Compared to bare Fe(2)o(3) nanoparticles, the carbon coated Fe(2)o(3) nanoparticles exhibit higher specific capacity, excellent rate capacity and cyclic stability as the anode in lithium ion batteries. These cocoon-like Fe(2)o(3)@C nanoparticles carry enhanced lithium storage properties with a reversible capacity of 358 mA h g(-1) after 150 cycles under the current density of 1000 mA g-1, while the carbon-free bare Fe(2)o(3) can only deliver a much lower capacity of 127.6 mA h g(-1) with a continuously decreasing trend. The excellent performance of Fe(2)o(3)@C is attributed to the coated carbon layers, which not only enhance the electronic conductivity but also reduce the stress upon the Fe(2)o(3) nanoparticles caused by the volume change during the charge/discharge process. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.