The　hierarchical　MoO2@RGO　composite　was　synthesized　through　a　simple　ethanol　thermal　reduction　combined　with　an　annealing　process.　This　unique　one-step　design　for　hybridizing　hierarchical　porous　MoO2　spheres　with　reduced　graphene　oxide　(RGO)　sheet　is　different　from　that　of　MoO2/graphene　composites　reported　previously.　The　resultant　hierarchical　MoO2@RGO　electrode　was　applied　as　an　anode　material　for　lithium-ion　batteries　and　found　to　exhibit　outstanding　electrochemical　performance　with　a　reversible　capacity　of　708　mAh　g−1　at　a　current　density　of　0.5　A　g−1　after　50　cycles.　Even　when　cycled　at　2　A　g−1,　it　still　maintained　a　decent　capacity　of　473　mAh　g−1.　©　2017　Elsevier　B.V.