A self-supporting binder-free tin oxide (SnO2) graphene nanocomposite electrode was synthesized through a novel one step solvothermal treatment of graphene oxide (GO) paper. To characterize this electrode X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and constant current galvanic cycling were performed. The solvothermal treatment simultaneously coats amorphous carbon and SnO2 nanoparticles onto the surface of GO paper, while reducing the GO nanosheets to graphene nanosheets (GNS). This creates a SnO2/GNS film that is flexible, free-standing, and can be used as the negative electrode in lithium ion batteries to deliver a reversible capacity of 400 mA h g−1 after repeated cycling.