On account of the high theoretical capacity, high corrosion resistance, environmental benignity, abundant availability and low cost, the research on a-Fe2O3 has been gradually fastened on as promising anodes materials toward lithium-ion batteries(LIBs). A high-performance anode for LIBs based on α-Fe2O3 nanoplates have been selectively prepared. The α-Fe2O3 nanoplates can be synthesized with iron ionbased ionic liquid as iron source and template. The α-Fe2O3 nanoplates as the anode of LIBs can display high capacity of around1950 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 which have exceeded the theoretical capacity of α-Fe2O3. On account of unique nanoplate structures and gum arabic as binder, the α-Fe2O3 nanoplates also exhibit high rate capability and excellent cycling performance.