To　transform　lithium　ion　batteries　into　large-scale　energy　storage　technologies,　high　energy/power　densities　and　long　cycling　life　of　carbon-based　anodes　must　be　achieved.　This　requires　revolutionary　design　of　the　anode＇s　architecture　that　can　facilitate　fast　electronic　and　ionic　transport,　and　accommodate　the　electrode　structural　instability.　Here　we　report　a　thin-film　electrode　design　and　demonstrate　its　use　in　flexible,　and　large-area　carbon-based　anode　assemblies.　The　fabrication　of　electrodes　is　realized　by　sputtering　a　graphite　target　in　the　high-purity　nitrogen　atmosphere,　then　highly　defect　nitrogen-doped　carbon　nanofibers　are　deposited　vertically　onto　copper　substrates　with　a　thin　film　configuration.　The　high-defect　nitrogen-doping　enhances　the　lithium　storage　and　transport,　the　orientation　growth　mechanism　improves　the　charge　transfer,　and　the　compact　configuration　makes　high　tap　density　possible.　As　a　result,　the　thin　films　exhibit　a　high　specific　capacity　of　similar　to　500　mA　h　g(-1),　namely　a　volume　capacity　of　similar　to　100　mA　h　cm(-3).　They　also　exhibit　stable　cycle　performance　(400　mA　h　g(-1)　after　200　cycles)　and　good　rate　capability　(450　mA　h　g(-1)　at　1　A　g(-1)　rate).　This　work　opens　up　a　new　carbonbased　anode　design　by　using　sputtering　technology　for　effectively　incorporating　high　content　nitrogen　into　carbon　matrices.　Such　electrode　architecture　significantly　improves　the　electrochemical　performance　of　carbon-based　materials.