Mixed　transition　metal　sulfides　(TMSs)　with　hollow　and　complex　hollow　structures　have　attracted　intensive　attentions　as　high-performance　cathode　materials　for　rechargeable　alkaline　batteries.　However,　these　powder-based　electrode　materials　should　be　further　mixed　with　insulative　polymer　binders　and　suffered　from　complicate　electrode　fabrication　process.　Herein,　for　the　first　time,　we　demonstrate　the　delicate　design　and　synthesis　of　the　sugar　gourd-like　multi-component　yolk-shell　Ni–Mo–Co–S　nanocage　arrays　(NCAs)　on　Ni　foam　(NF)　through　a　facile　metal-organic　framework　(MOF)-engaged　strategy.　The　synthetic　process　includes　the　growth　of　Co-based　zeolitic　imidazolate　framework　(ZIF-67)　polyhedra　onto　the　NiMoO4·xH2O　nanorod　arrays　(NRAs)　at　room　temperature　and　followed　by　a　sufficient　sulfidation　reaction.　Benefiting　from　the　intriguing　structural　and　compositional　advantages,　the　yolk-shell　Ni–Mo–Co–S　NCAs/NF　binder-free　electrode　exhibits　an　extremely　high　areal　capacity　of　1.96　mAh　cm−2　at　a　current　density　of　5　mA　cm−2　and　excellent　cycling　stability.　The　electrode　kinetics　analysis　confirms　the　diffusion-controlled　battery-type　behavior　of　the　yolk-shell　Ni–Mo–Co–S　NCAs/NF　electrode.　The　corresponding　full　cell　delivers　an　high　energy　density　of　92.6　Wh　kg−1　at　the　power　density　of　1029.1　W　kg−1　with　the　yolk-shell　Ni–Mo–Co–S　NCAs/NF　as　cathode　electrode　and　Bi2O3　as　anode　electrode,　indicating　the　potential　for　real　applications.　This　work　would　make　contribution　to　the　realization　of　directly　growing　multi-component　hollow　and　complex　hollow　structures　on　conductive　substrate　for　high-performance　electrochemical　energy　storage.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.