[en] Highlights: • The hierarchical Cu nanosheets @ CuO nanorods nanostructures were fabricated by a facile hydrothermal approach. • The hierarchical Cu nanosheets @ CuO nanorods electrodes show a high reversible capacity at a current 0.1C. • Cu nanosheet can effectively buffer the large volume expansion/contraction and improve the electrical contact of the active materials during charge-discharge processes. The hierarchical Cu nanosheets @ CuO nanorods nanostructures were fabricated by a facile hydrothermal approach using Cu nanosheets as self-template and nano-substrate in an aqueous solution of NaOH/H₂O₂. The hierarchical Cu nanosheets @ CuO nanorods electrodes show a high reversible capacity of 620 mAh/g after 200 cycles, much higher than that of the pure CuO nanocrystals at a current 0.1 C. The excellent electrochemical performance of the hierarchical Cu nanosheets @ CuO nanorods electrode can be attributed to the unique architecture, which not only provides appropriate spaces between nanorod arrays to accommodate the volume change during the discharge/charge process, but also enables fast charge transport owing to the reduced diffusion paths for electrons and induced the Cu nanosheet as the nano-substrates.