Composite anode active material, anode and lithium battery comprising the material, and method of preparing the same

A composite anode active material, an anode and a lithium battery each including the composite anode active material, and a method of preparing the composite anode active material. The composite anode active material includes a composite core, and a coating layer covering at least a region of the composite core, wherein the composite core includes a carbonaceous base and a metal/semi-metal nanostructure on the carbonaceous substrate, the coating layer is more predominant on the nanostructure than on the carbonaceous substrate, and the coating layer includes a metal oxide.