NH4V4O10　based　ammonium　vanadium　bronze　has　been　widely　investigated　as　a　cathode　material　for　lithium-ion　batteries.　A　V4O10　group　based　H6V4O10　might　be　a　potential　anode　material　due　to　its　high　hydrogen　content　and　similar　composition.　Microspheres　modified　by　loosely　distributed　nanoparticles　showed　higher　discharge　capacity　and　better　cycling　stability　than　those　composed　of　tightly　packed　micro-blocks　for　lithium-ion　batteries　and　zinc-ion　batteries.　The　former　can　steadily　cycle　at　current　densities　of　400　mA　g-1　for　1000　cycles　with　a　capacity　of　up　to　387　mA　h　g-1.　The　discharge　capacity　of　aqueous　zinc-ion　batteries　can　be　up　to　238.8　mA　h　g-1　with　a　capacity　retention　of　87.8%　after　26　cycles.　The　improved　electrochemical　performance　can　be　ascribed　to　the　nanoparticles　modifying　the　loose　surface,　which　promotes　ion　and　electron　transfer.　©　2019　The　Authors.