Complex　spinel　titanate　Li　2MTi　3O　8　(M　=　Co,　Zn,　Co　0.5Zn　0.5)　nanowires　have　been　synthesized　via　a　simple　synthetic　route　using　titanate　nanowires　as　a　precursor.　The　nanowires　are　highly　crystalline　and　have　been　used　for　the　first　time　as　the　anode　material　in　a　rechargeable　lithium-ion　battery.　The　battery　has　exhibited　a　highly　reversible　charge-discharge　capacity　and　excellent　cycling　stability,　even　at　a　current　density　as　high　as　3.2　A　g　-1.　This　result　can　be　attributed　to　the　intrinsic　characteristics　of　spinel　Li　2MTi　3O　8　nanowires.　A　three-dimensional　network　could　provide　a　diffusion　space　for　lithium　ion　insertion　into　and　extraction　from　the　anode　material,　resulting　in　very　good　cycle　performance,　even　at　a　high　rate.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry　2011.