Abstract: The Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C （LTO/C） composite with excellent rate performances was synthesized via a facile hydrolysis reaction followed by a low temperature heat treatment. In the hydrolysis process,the introduction of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide （CTAB） as a surfactant can significantly improve the rate performances of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composite as anode material for lithium ion battery （LIB）. The specific capacities of the obtained composite at charge and discharge rates of 0.5,1,2,5 and 10 C were respectively 162,154,121,80 and 60 m Ah/g,which was apparently larger than those of the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C by physical mixing processes. The Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C prepared with CTAB also showed excellent cycling stability at high rate,attributed to its larger diffusion coefficient of lithium ion （8.97 × 10^-13cm²/s）,smaller charge-transfer resistance Rct （35.2 Ω） and volume resistance Rs （6.8 Ω） than those of the composite by physical mixing. Therefore,this study has important theory significance and practical application value.