Carbon encapsulated nanosheet-assembled MoSe2 hollow nanospheres were in situ fabricated via a facile hydrothermal treatment and subsequent annealing treatment. When evaluated as anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the MoSe2/C hybrid hollow spheres manifest prodigious cycling stability (a high reversible capacity of 795 mA h g(-1) after 250 cycles at 0.2 A g(-1) and 744 mA h g(-1) after 300 cycles at 1 A g(-1)) and compelling rate capability (370 mA hg(-1), even at a high current density of 10 A g(-1)) compared to the bare MoSe2 hollow nanospheres. The impressive lithium storage properties of the as prepared MoSe2/C nanocomposites can be attributed to the introduction of glucose-derived conductive carbon and the design of hollow structure, which facilitates fast electron and ion transfer, relieves the stress caused by volume variation upon cycling and improves the electric conductivity. Such remarkable electrochemical performances together with universal approach endow this material with potential application for next generation lithium-ion batteries. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc.