A　novel　C/Co　composite　with　Co　nanoparticles　embedded　in　carbon　matrix　is　synthesized　firstly　by　pyrolysis　of　polymeric　cobalt　phthalocyanine　(PcCo)　at　700　degrees　C　in　argon　atmosphere.　This　composite　is　investigated　as　an　anode　material　for　lithium　ion　batteries,　indicating　high　tap　density　and　excellent　electrochemical　performance.　The　C/Co　electrode　can　retain　a　higher　reversible　capacity　of　over　600　mAh　g(-1)　at　a　current　of　50　mA　g(-1)　after　40　cycles　and　shows　better　rate　capability　and　less　hysteresis　in　comparison　to　carbon　not　containing　Co.　The　significant　improvement　is　attributed　to　the　Co　nanoparticles　grown　in-situ　reaction　with　catalytic　activity　and　high　electrical　conductivity.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.