New cellulose derivative CMC-Li was synthesized, and nanometer CMC-Li fiber was applied to lithiumi-on battery and coated with AQby electrospinning. Under the protection of inert gas, modified AQ/carbon nanofibers (CNF)/Li nanometer composite material was obtained by carbonization in 280 degrees C as lithium battery anode materials for the first time. The morphologies and structures performance of materials were characterized by using IR, H-1 NMR, SEM, CV and EIS, respectively. Specific capacity was increased from 197 to 226.4 mAh g(-1) after modification for the first discharge at the rate of 2C. Irreversible reduction reaction peaks of modified material appeared between 1.5 and 1.7 V and the lowest oxidation reduction peak of the difference were 0.42V, the polarization was weaker. Performance of cell with CMC-Li with the high degree of substitution (DS) was superior to that with low DS. Cellulose materials were applied to lithium battery to improve battery performance by electrospinning. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.