ZnMoO4 center dot 0.8H(2)O nanorods as anode materials for lithium ion batteries are obtained through facile aqueous solution method. The electrochemical properties of ZnMoO4 center dot 0.8H(2)O have been investigated for the first time with the mixture of sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose and polyacrylic acid (CMC/PAA) as binder. The experiments show that the CMC/PAA binder significandy improves the cycling performance and rate capability of ZnMoO4 center dot 0.8H(2)O compared with the conventional polyvinylidene-fluoride (PVDF) and CMC. The electrode of ZnMoO4 center dot 0.8H(2)O with CMC/PAA displays a stable reversible discharge capacity of 479 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1), a capacity fading rate of 0.7% per cycle to the second cycle and a higher initial coulombic efficiency of 89%. A capacity of 435 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) can recover after 50cycles even following the discharge/charge process with the high current density of 500 mA g(-1) In addition, the CMC/PAA binder lowers Ohmic resistance and increase the lithium diffusion coefficient. All these advantages highlight the application of CMC/PAA binder used in ZnMoO4 center dot 0.8H(2)O.