The C-ZnCo2O4-ZnO nanorod arrays (NRAs), which consist of MOF-derived carbon coating on ZnCo2O4-ZnO NRAs, are rational designed and synthesized via a facile template-based solution route on Ti foil and used as high-performance anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The uniform coated MOF-derived carbon layers on the ZnCo2O4-ZnO nanorods surface can serve as a conductive substrate as well as buffer layer to restrain volume expansion during charge-discharge process. When tested as anodes for LIBs, the C-ZnCo2O4-ZnO NRAs show high reversible capacity of 1318 mA h g(-1) at 0.2 A g(-1) after 150 charge-discharge cycles. Furthermore, C-ZnCo2O4-ZnO NRAs also exhibit brilliant rate performance of 886.2, 812.8, 732.2 and 580.6 mA h g(-1) at 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 A g(-1), respectively. The outstanding lithium storage performance of C-ZnCo2O4-ZnO NRAs could be ascribed to the stimulated kinetics of ion diffusion and electron transport originated from the shortened lithium-ion diffusion pathway and improved electronic conductivity benefit from uniformly coating MOF-derived carbon.