BACKGROUND Graphene and carbon nanofibers have shown outstanding advantages as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their prominent electronic conductivity, outstanding flexibility, high theoretical specific capacity, high specific surface, and chemical durability. Free-standing nanocomposite mats from graphene and carbon nanofibers, without any conductive additive and binder, could improve the weight energy density of the LIBs. RESULTS Nitrogen-doped carbon fiber-reduced graphene oxide (NCNFs-rGO) mats are fabricated by high-temperature thermal treatment of graphene oxide/polyacrylonitrile (PAN-GO) nanofiber composite mats via a simple electrospinning method. The resultant free-standing NCNFs-rGO mats which were systematically characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical properties as an anode for LIBs were also measured. Without any conductive additive and binder, the resultant free-standing NCNFs-rGO mats were directly used as an anode material in LIBs. CONCLUSION The LIBs with NCNFs-rGO mats as anodes exhibited a high rate capability and long cycle stability owing to the structural integrity and highly electrical conductivity. (c) 2019 Society of Chemical Industry