In　this　article,　a　new　zinc-containing　ionic　liquid　(IL)　[HMMIm]2[ZnCl4]　(HMMIm　=　1-hexyl-2,3-dimethyl-imidazolium)　is　designed,　which　acts　as　a　multifunctional　source　for　the　interfacial　engineering　of　ZnS　nanodots　(NDs).　Given　the　electrostatic　interaction　driven　by　the　imidazolium　cation,　the　steric　effect　of　the　alkyl　chain,　and　the　in　situ　released　Zn　ion　from　the　IL,　[HMMIm]2[ZnCl4]　shows　great　advantages　in　controlling　the　formation　of　ZnS　NDs.　Based　on　this　strategy,　a　nanocomposite　consisting　of　homodispersed　ZnS　NDs　anchored　on　sulfur/nitrogen　dual-doped　reduced　graphene　oxide　(ZnS-NDs@SNG)　is　prepared.　When　evaluated　as　an　anode　material　for　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs),　the　nanocomposite　delivers　high　reversible　specific　capacity,　excellent　high-rate　performance,　and　superior　cycling　life.　In　particular,　a　discharge　capacity　of　648.1　mA　h　g-1　can　be　achieved　at　a　high　current　density　(10.0　A　g-1)　over　5000　cycles.　Benefitting　from　the　multifunctional　IL　and　the　simple　synthesis　protocol,　the　IL-assisted　interfacial　engineering　strategy　will　enable　a　new　avenue　for　the　controllable　synthesis　of　metal-sulfide-based　anode　materials.　©　2021　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.