Ultrafine powders of nanocrystalline CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4/10wt.% SnO2 nanocomposites are prepared by a urea–nitrate combustion method. Phase pure and highly crystalline CuFe2O4 (tetragonal structure) and CuFe2O4/SnO2 (cubic structure) are obtained after sintering at 1100°C. The average particle size is 10–20 and 20–30nm, respectively. Both the nanoferrite anodes have an excellent specific capacity of greater than 800mAhg−1 versus Li metal. It is concluded that SnO2 doping improves the coulombic efficiency of copper ferrite anodes from 65 to 99.5% via an enhanced structural stability.