SnSbx alloy powders with different composition and particle size have been examined for use as Li-alloy composite anode materials in lithium ion cells. Rapid degradation of cycling performance of Li-alloy composite electrodes in 1 M LiClO4/EC + DEC (1:1) can be greatly suppressed by decreasing the particle size of SnSbx alloy hosts and choosing a suitable polymer binder. An increase of antimony content in SnSbx alloy to a certain extent also improved the cycling stability. In order to enhance coulombic efficiency at the first cycle, a given amount of lithium was introduced into the electrode before cycling by different methods. A remarkable improvement in the electrode performance can be achieved by adding a small amount of Li2.6Co0.4N powder into the SnSbx-based composite electrodes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.