The vertical graphene with hierarchical three-dimensional network architecture is a promising substrate for high energy and power density Li-ion battery due to its large surface area, inherent three-dimensional network and excellent ion transport property. Three dimensional vertical graphene (3DVG) is synthesized via plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using cost-effective and environment-friendly natural oil of M. alternifolia as precursor. The MoS2 nanosheets are then anchored on free-standing 3DVG by hydrothermal method to make the binder free MoS2@3DVG anode of a Li-ion battery. The MoS2@3DVG electrodes deliver an enhanced capacity of 670 mAh g(-1) with the capacity retention of 99% after 30 cycles at 100 mA g(-1), much better than that of the reference sample of MoS2@3DG (550 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1)) which uses 3D planar graphene. Superior performance of the vertical graphene based electrode is attributed to the unique hierarchical structure and densely packed reactive edges of the as-synthesized 3DVG. The versatility of plasma-assisted natural precursor based vertical graphene as functional nano-structured substrate for MoS2, as active material, for advanced energy storage devices is demonstrated. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.