In　the　present　work,　the　hierarchical　Mn3O4　microsphere　assembled　by　two-dimensional　ultrathin　nanosheets　was　initially　synthesized　successfully　through　ethanol　thermal　reduction　method.　When　used　as　the　anode　materials　for　lithium　ion　batteries,　the　hierarchical　Mn3O4　microsphere　exhibited　large　reversible　capacity　(640 mAh g−1　at　100 mA g−1　for　100　cycles),　high　rate　capability　(391 mAh g−1　at　2 A g−1)　and　outstanding　long-time　cycling　stability　(324 mAh g−1　at　2 A g−1　after　1300　cycles).　The　excellent　performances　might　be　related　with　their　hierarchical　microsphere　structure　and　two-dimensional　nanostructure.　©　2019,　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC,　part　of　Springer　Nature.