The NiCo2O4-anchored reduced graphene oxide (NiCo2O4@rGO) nanoplates have been synthesized by a facile self-assembly process. The morphology, crystalline structure and electrochemical performance of the materials have been investigated comprehensively. The results of SEM manifest that NiCo2O4 particles have been densely anchored on the surface of rGO with a mesoporous structure, and the morphology is tunable via altering concentration of urea during the preparation process. Due to the high ratio of NiCo2O4 in the composite and the plate structure, the electrochemical performance of as-prepared material has been greatly improved. When evaluated as anode materials in lithium ion batteries (LIBs), the as-prepared NiCo2O4@rGO nanocomposite delivers a reversible capacity of 994 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 200 mAg(-1) with outstanding rate capability, revealing that it could be a promising anode for LIBs. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.