Tin, tin oxide and NiSn-based nanocomposites with Al2O3 dispersion were prepared by ball milling to see their electrochemical properties as a new anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Electrochemical tests demonstrated that the initial charge-discharge capacities are very high for these materials. However, the capacity faded rapidly after the first cycle due to irreversible reactions. This is thought to be caused by the separation of the active materials from the inert oxide particles. The initial cycling efficiency was markedly improved by subsequent annealing of the ball-milled electrode. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.