Very　large　area,　uniform　Li4Ti5O12/carbon　composite　nanowebs　consisting　of　interconnected　nanofibers　were　synthesized　by　a　simple　method　based　on　thermal　pyrolysis　and　oxidation　of　a　composite　of　electrospun　lithium-titanium/polyacrylonitrile　nanowebs　in　argon　atmosphere.　This　novel　composite　is　characterized　by　the　encapsulation　of　highly　uniform　nanoscale　Li4Ti5O12　crystals　in　the　porous　cotton-like　carbon　matrix.　This　unique　structure,　consisting　of　ultra-small　crystals　in　carbon　core/shell　architecture,　is　also　characterized　by　high　porosity,　with　many　nanopores　and　mesopores　in　the　composite,　and　this,　together　with　the　high　conductive　carbon　matrix,　would　facilitate　the　excellent　electrochemical　performance　of　Li4Ti5O12/carbon　composite　nanoweb　electrode.　The　Li4Ti5O12/carbon　hybrid　nanoweb　electrodes　display　a　reversible　capacity　of　approximately　160.8　mAhg(-1)　at　a　current　density　of　30　mAg(-1)　and　excellent　cycling　stability.　The　Li4Ti5O12/carbon　hybrid　nanoweb　electrodes　also　exhibit　excellent　rate　performance,　delivering　a　discharge　capacity　of　over　87　mAhg(-1)　at　a　current　density　of　3000　mAg(-1).　These　results　indicate　that　the　composite　is　a　promising　anode　candidate　for　lithium　ion　batteries.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.