We report a novel three-dimensional nanoporous TiO2-TiO-TiN (Np-TTT) ternary composite film with cylindrical pores of diameter phi 30-50 nm and laminated tier thickness of 10-30 nm, which was fabricated straightforwardly on a Ti foil via a one-step anodization in an aqueous nitric electrolyte. The Np-TTT composite films consisted of amorphous TiO2 matrix, quasi-crystalline TiO, and a small amount of TiN (similar to 2 at% as N), which are formed simultaneously during anodization through electrochemical and/or chemical reactions in the nitric electrolyte. As a binder-free and auxiliary-component-free anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the capacity and rate performance of the Np-TTT anodes were dependent on both the anodizing conditions and crystalline structure. Particularly, the Np-TTT composite film (similar to 800 nm-thick) that was annealed at 250 degrees C for 1 h exhibited the highest areal specific capacity of 440 mu Ah cm(-2) at the 1st cycle, a high retention of 95% from the 2nd to the 50th cycles, and a Coulombic efficiency of approximately 100%. The enhanced capacities of the Np-TTT composite films can be primarily attributed to the synergetic effect of the inclusion of conductive TiN component in bulk TiO2 matrix films, the active TiO with quasi-crystalline cubic phase, and nanoporous structure with high surface area. (C) The Author(s) 2018. Published by ECS.