Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) supported NiCo2O4 nanobelts with surface pores (NSP-NiCo2O4/rGO) are successfully constructed by means of a combination of a low-temperature hydrothermal method and subsequent calcination. It is found that in the NSP-NiCo2O4/rGO hybrid, the NiCo2O4 nanobelt shows a preferred orientation active (311) plane, which is dotted with abundant pores with an average diameter of similar to 4.7 nm. The hybrid is used as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries and exhibits a high specific capacity (1324 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 0.1 A g(-1)), excellent rate capabilities (1132, 1066, 993 and 869 mAh g(-1) at 200, 300, 500 and 1000 mA g(-1), respectively), and a superior cycling stability (only a 4% capacity decay after 80 cycles). The significant Li storage performance of the NSP-NiCo2O4/rGO hybrid is mainly attributed to the unique nanostructure of the NiCo2O4 nanobelt with surface pore and preferred orientation active (311) plane, and the synergistic effect between the NiCo2O4 nanobelts and rGO. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.