Cubic　MnO　with　particle　sizes　of　similar　to　200　nm　and　similar　to　600　nm　was　synthesized　by　decomposition　of　MnCO(3).　The　corresponding　MnO/C　composite　was　obtained　by　thermal　treatment　of　mixture　of　MnCO(3)　and　sucrose.　The　structure　and　morphology　of　the　products　were　investigated　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM).　Electrochemical　experiments　showed　that　the　as-prepared　MnO/C　exhibited　promising　electrochemical　properties,　and　could　potentially　be　used　as　anode　material　in　lithium-ion　batteries.　MnO/C　delivered　a　reversible　capacity　of　about　470　mAh/g　after　cycling　50　times,　when　testing　at　75　mA/g.　The　reversible　capacity,　when　tested　at　150,　375,　755　mA/g,　reached　440,　320,　235　mAh/g,　respectively.　The　good　electrochemical　performance　was　ascribed　to　the　smaller　particle　size　and　the　efficient　carbon　coating　on　MnO.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.