A facile method was developed for the synthesis of carbon fibers with molybdenum oxide nanoplates arrays grown on. The carbon fibers were directly derived from cotton pads, which provide the long range conductivity. The sheet-like structure of MoO3 shortens the path of lithium diffusion and offers a large surface area for electrolyte penetration. The MoO3@CFs manifest high reversible capacity of 1070 mA h g(-)1 at 100 mA g(-1) and excellent rate capability for lithium storage. This work offers a simple and effective approach for the development of high-performance electrodes for lithium ion batteries. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.