MoO2　is　a　promising　anode　material　for　lithium-ion　batteries,　however,　the　lithiation　of　bulk　MoO2　is　usually　limited　to　addition-type　reaction　at　room　temperature,　and　the　conversion　reaction　is　hindered　because　of　the　sluggish　kinetics.　Herein,　a　nanocomposite　of　MoO2　embedded　in　nitrogen-doped　carbon　(MoO2/NC)　is　synthesized　through　the　in　situ　thermolysis　of　an　organic　molybdenum　complex　MoO2(acac)(phen)　(acac　=　acetylacetone,　phen　=　1,10-Phenanthroline).　Owing　to　the　fact　that　[MoO2]2+　can　be　strongly　chelated　by　phen,　the　molybdenum　source　in　the　MoO2(acac)(phen)　precursor　is　highly　dispersed,　leading　to　the　formation　of　ultra-small　MoO2　nanoparticles　in　the　nanocomposite,　which　can　facilitate　the　conversion　reaction.　Moreover,　the　NC　matrix　can　guarantee　a　high　electrical　conductivity　and　effectively　accommodate　the　volume　changes　triggered　by　the　conversion　reaction.　Consequently,　the　MoO2/NC　nanocomposite　exhibits　outstanding　electrochemical　properties,　including　large　reversible　capacity　of　950　mA　h　g−1　at　0.1　A　g−1,　high-rate　capability　of　605　mA　h　g−1　at　2　A　g−1,　and　excellent　cycling　stability　over　500　cycles　as　an　anode　material　for　lithium-ion　batteries.　©　2021　Elsevier　Inc.