Metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs)　derived　ternary　transition　metal　oxide　nanostructures　have　attracted　considerable　attention　for　their　important　applications　in　energy-related　fields.　However,　most　of　the　present　reports　on　MOFs-derived　materials　are　in　the　powder　form,　which　should　be　further　mixed　with　polymer　binder　and　conductive　agents　before　they　are　coated　on　current　conductor.　In　this　work,　we　demonstrate　a　facile　solution　method　to　grow　the　bimetallic　zinc/cobalt　zeolitic　imidazolate　frameworks　nanoplate　arrays　(Zn/Co-ZIF　NPAs)　on　carbon　cloth　(CC)　substrate　and　then　they　are　well　converted　to　porous　ternary　ZnCo2O4　NPAs　on　CC　after　an　annealing　treatment　in　air.　When　investigated　as　binder-free　electrodes　for　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs),　the　ZnCo2O4　NPAs/CC　electrode　exhibits　a　high　area　capacity　of　3.01　mA　h　cm−2　(corresponding　to　1341.7　mA　h　g−1　for　the　ZnCo2O4　NPAs)　at　the　current　density　of　0.24　mA　cm−2　for　100　cycles,　which　is　much　higher　than　that　of　the　Co3O4　NPAs/CC　electrode　(1.93　mA　h　cm−2).　Moreover,　at　a　high　current　density　of　1.20　mA　cm−2,　the　ZnCo2O4　NPAs/CC　electrode　can　still　maintain　a　high　capacity　of　2.05　mA　h　cm−2.　The　excellent　electrochemical　performance　could　be　attributed　to　the　unique　morphology,　structure　and　composition　of　the　porous　ternary　ZnCo2O4　NPAs,　as　well　as　directly　grown　on　current　collector.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.