A novel hierarchical architecture of CoMoO4 nanoneedle with high electrochemical performance was synthesized using a facile one-step hydrothermal method. As the active electrode material in super-capacitors, it exhibited a large specific capacitance (1628.1 C g(-1) at a current density of 2 mA cm(-2)), a high rate capability (874.8 C g(-1) at 50 mA cm(-2)), and superior cycling stability (90.54% capability retention after 5000 cycles at 10 mA cm(-2)). Moreover, as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the CoMoO4 nanoneedle exhibited an early onset potential of 1.37 V, a small Tafel slope of 66 mV Dec(-1), and a low overpotential of 235 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm(-2). The excellent electrochemical performance of the hierarchical CoMoO4 structure was attributed to its porosity and the characteristics of the 2D nanosheet subunits that possess many active reaction sites, rapid electron/ion transport, and high stability. The synthetic strategy used in the present study is simple, cost-effective, and generalizable. It can be used to develop effective electrode materials for large-scale energy storage and conversion applications. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.