NiCoO2 nanosheets grown on nitrogen-doped porous carbon spheres (NiCoO2@N-PCs) have been synthesized via a facile approach using gelatin nanospheres (GNSs) as the template, carbon and nitrogen sources. Due to the synergistic effect between the NiCoO2 nanosheets and N-PCs, the NiCoO2@N-PCs composite exhibits an ultrahigh discharge capacity of 978 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 200 mA g(-1) with minimal capacity loss even after 80 cycles. The superior properties of NiCoO2@N-PCs illustrate that amorphous carbon matrix could significantly improve the electrochemical performance of high-capacity metal oxide anode nanomaterials. Findings from this study suggest that these GNSs may be used to synthesize functional metal oxides, including MnO2, Fe2O3, CoO and NiO@N-PCs nanostructures. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.