<p>In this work, the mesoporous Co₂VO₄@C composite microsphere is firstly prepared by a facile solvothermal method followed by a carbon coating process. When used as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, its unique architecture can effectively shorten the diffusion length of Li⁺, improve the specific surface area and accommodate the volume variation of the electrode materials during charge/discharge processes. In addition, the carbon layer can further enhance the electrical conductivity and structural stability of the electrode material significantly. As a result, the Co₂VO₄@C composite based battery exhibits an outstanding electrochemical performance. It delivers a high and stable reversible capacity of 929.8 mAh g^− 1 with capacity retention ratio of 103.6% at a current density of 1&#xa0;A g^− 1 even after 400 cycles. Even at a high current density of 10&#xa0;A g^− 1, the composite electrode can still maintain a high capacity of 300.6 mAh g^− 1, showing an excellent rate capability. These results suggest that Co₂VO₄@C composite is a promising anode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.</p>