A Cr₂O₃/carbon nanosheet composite is directly synthesized by solution combustion synthesis using chromium nitrate as the chromium source and glucose as the carbon source. The Cr₂O₃/carbon nanosheet composite serving as an anode material for lithium ion batteries has been studied, exhibiting higher cycling and rate performance than pure Cr₂O₃. The carbon in the composite not only inhibits the growth of Cr₂O₃ particles, but also improves the electrical conductivity of Cr₂O₃ and buffers the volume change during the lithium ion insertion/extraction process, which enhances the electrochemical performance.