Core–shell structure carbon coating Fe3O4 nanoparticles are prepared by a two-step method. The crystalline structure and the electrochemical performance of the prepared samples are investigated. The results indicate that a uniform and continuous carbon layer is formed on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The core–shell structure Fe3O4/C nanoparticles show a high initial discharge capacity of 1546mAhg−1 and a specific stable discharge capacity of about 800mAhg−1 at 0.5C with no noticeable capacity fading up to 100 cycles.