ZnCo2O4 nanorods are first synthesized via hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy are used to study the structure and shape of the obtained powders. The data indicates that the as-synthesized ZnCo2O4 nanorods range from 150 to 200nm in length and from 15 to 22nm in diameter. It is the first time that two cathode peaks have been simultaneously observed on the initial cyclic voltammogram curve. A synthesis mechanism of nanorods and charge–discharge mechanism have also been supposed. EIS data shows that the ZnCo2O4 nanorods have lower surface layer resistance (∼192Ω), which can improve electrochemical activity. The clearer plateaus are seen at ∼0.5V for the first discharge curve and at ∼0.05V for all the discharge curves, respectively. The initial discharge capacity is 1509mAhg−1. After 50 cycles, the capacity is 767.15mAhg−1. The obtained ZnCo2O4 nanorods show a great prospect for application in the anode materials of lithium ion batteries.