Composites of rutile-type TiO2and Si were synthesized by a facile sol-gel method for a high-performanceanode of Li-ion battery. We have investigated anode performance of binder-free thick-film electrodesprepared by a gas-deposition method using the TiO2/Si composites obtained. The composite electrodeexhibited a remarkably improved cyclability and a good high-rate performance: a discharge capacity atthe 900th cycle was 710 mAh g -1, and a specific capacity per Si weight was as large as 1870 mAh g(Si)-1even at a high current rate of 4.8 C. It is suggested that a fast Li-ion diffusion in TiO2provides smoothinsertion/extraction of Li-ion into/from the composite electrodes. The results offer a utility of rutile TiO2as a Li-ion conductor in Si-based electrodes for the next-generation Li-ion battery.© 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.