A　simple　and　versatile　method　for　preparation　of　cobalt　4,5-imidazoledicarboxylate　microspheres　is　developed.　The　cobalt　4,5-imidazoledicarboxylate　complex　is　a　kind　of　stable　intercalation　materials　for　lithium-　and　sodium-ion　batteries.　When　tested　as　an　anode　material　for　lithium-ion　batteries,　the　coordination　complex　microspheres　based　composite　electrode　delivers　a　second　discharge　capacity　of　595.4 mAh g−1　at　a　current　density　of　1 Ah g−1.　A　reversible　capacity　of　416.1 mAh g−1　remained　after　143 cycles,　while　a　reversible　capacity　of　259.9 mAh g−1　remained　after　500 cycles　at　a　current　density　of　1.5 A g−1.　In　addition,　it　can　also　serve　as　stable　anode　materials　for　sodium-ion　batteries.　Research　based　on　the　topics　would　shed　some　light　on　the　discovery　of　new　alternative　intercalation　materials　to　graphite.　©　2017,　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.