MoO3 nanobelts are synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route followed by carbon coating. The effects of the carbon coating on the nanobelts are investigated by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and galvanostatic cycling. As observed from the TEM and SEM images, the C-MoO3 nanobelts have a diameter of 150 nm and a length of 5-8 mu m. In the electrochemical results, the C-MoO3 nanobelts exhibit excellent cycling stability after being cycled at a current rate of 0.1 C, maintaining their capacity at 1064 mAh g(-1) after 50 cycles. These results are better than those for a bare MoO(3)nanobelt electrode. The excellent electrochemical performance of the C-MoO3 nanobelts can be attributed to the effects of the carbon coating which stabilizes the structure of the MoO3, enhances the ionic/electrical conductivity, and moreover, can serve as a buffering agent to absorb the volume expansion during the Li+ intercalation process. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.