NiCo2O4 is a potential anode material for lithium ion battery due to its many advantages, such as high theoretical capacitance, low cost, and good electrochemical activity. In this study, mesoporous NiCo2O4 double-hemisphere (3-5 mu m) with high surface area (270.68 m(2).g(-1)) and excellent electrochemical performances has been synthesized through a facile precipitation method followed with thermal treatment process. The prepared NiCo2O4 is pure phase and can be indexed as a face-centered-cubic with a typical spinel structure. Electrochemical tests show the prepared material has high specific capacities (910 mAh.g(-1) at 100 mA.g(-1)), excellent cyclicity (908 mAh.g(-1) at 100 mA-g(-1) after 60 cycles) and remarkable high rate performance (after 100 cycles, 585 mAh.g(-1) at 400 mAh.g(-1), 415 mAh.g(-1) at 800 mAh.g(-1) and 320 mAh.g(-1) at 1600 mAh-g(-1) with coulombic efficiencies of almost 100%). The excellent performances of prepared NiCo2O4 are mainly caused by the unique double-hemisphere structure, which has large surface area, gives material more opportunity to contact with electrolyte and facilitates lithium ion spreading into the material along the radical direction, resulting in a promising application for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.