Bismuth　sulfide　(Bi2S3)　has　attracted　particular　interest　as　a　potential　anode　material　for　sodium-ion　batteries　(SIBs).　However,　the　low　electrical　conductivity　and　dramatic　volumetric　change　greatly　restrict　its　practical　applications.　In　view　of　the　apparent　structural　and　compositional　advantages　of　metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs)　derived　carbon-based　composite,　herein,　as　a　proof　of　concept,　Bi2S3　spheres　coated　with　the　MOF-derived　Co9S8　and　N-doped　carbon　composite　layer　(Bi2S3@Co9S8/NC　composite　spheres)　have　been　rational　designed　and　synthesized.　As　expected,　the　core-shell　Bi2S3@Co9S8/NC　composite　spheres　exhibit　remarkable　electrochemical　performance　in　terms　of　high　reversible　capacity　(597　mAh　g−1　after　100　cycles　at　0.1　A　g−1),　good　rate　capability　(341　mAh　g−1　at　8　A　g−1)　and　long-term　cycling　stability　(458　mAh　g−1　after　1000　cycles　at　1　A　g−1)　when　investigated　as　anode　materials　for　SIBs.　Electrochemical　analyses　further　reveal　the　favorable　reaction　kinetics　in　the　Bi2S3@Co9S8/NC　composite　spheres.　In　addition,　the　possible　sodium　storage　mechanism　has　been　studied　by　ex-situ　X-ray　diffraction　technique.　More　importantly,　a　sodium-ion　full　cell　based　on　Na3V2(PO4)3/rGO　as　cathode　and　Bi2S3@Co9S8/NC　as　anode　is　also　fabricated,　suggesting　their　potential　for　practical　applications.　It　is　anticipated　that　the　present　work　could　be　extended　to　construct　other　advanced　electrode　materials　using　MOFs-derived　carbon-based　composites　as　surface　coating　materials　for　various　energy　storage-related　applications.　©　2020　Science　Press