In　this　work,　we　fabricated　vanadium/zinc　metal–organic　frameworks　(V/Zn-MOFs)　derived　from　self-assembled　metal　organic　frameworks,　to　further　disperse　ultrasmall　Zn2VO4　nanoparticles　and　encapsulate　them　in　a　nitrogen-doped　nanocarbon　network　(ZVO/NC)　under　in　situ　pyrolysis.　When　employed　as　an　anode　for　lithium-ion　batteries,　ZVO/NC　delivers　a　high　reversible　capacity　(807　mAh　g−1　at　0.5　A　g−1)　and　excellent　rate　performance　(372　mAh　g−1　at　8.0　A　g−1).　Meanwhile,　when　used　in　sodium-ion　batteries,　it　exhibits　long-term　cycling　stability　(7000　cycles　with　145　mAh　g−1　at　2.0　A　g−1).　Additionally,　when　employed　in　potassium-ion　batteries,　it　also　shows　outstanding　electrochemical　performance　with　reversible　capacities　of　264　mAh　g−1　at　0.1　A　g−1　and　140　mAh　g−1　at　0.5　A　g−1　for　1000　cycles.　The　mechanism　by　which　the　pseudocapacitive　behaviour　of　ZVO/NC　enhances　battery　performance　under　a　suitable　electrolyte　was　probed,　which　offers　useful　enlightenment　for　the　potential　development　of　anodes　of　alkali-ion　batteries.　The　performance　of　Zn2VO4　as　an　anode　for　SIBs/PIBs　was　investigated　for　the　first　time.　This　work　provides　a　new　horizon　in　the　design　ZVO/NC　as　a　promising　anode　material　owing　to　the　intrinsically　synergic　effects　of　mixed　metal　species　and　the　multiple　valence　states　of　V.　©　2021　Elsevier　Inc.