Zinc　sulfide　(ZnS)　is　a　promising　anode　material　for　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs)　because　of　its　high　theoretical　capacity,　abundance,　cost-effectiveness,　and　environmental　friendliness.　Herein,　a　hydrangea-like　ZnS-carbon　composite　(ZnS-NC)　is　synthesized　through　the　hydrothermal　method　and　subsequent　pyrolysis　of　a　supramolecular　precursor　guanosine.　The　resulting　composite　comprises　ultrafine　ZnS　nanoparticles　firmly　stabilized　on　a　nitrogen-doped　carbon　matrix,　featuring　mesoporous　channels　and　high　surface　areas.　When　utilized　as　an　anode　material　for　LIBs,　the　initial　discharge　specific　capacity　of　the　ZnS-NC　electrode　reaches　an　impressive　value　of　944　mA　h　g−1　at　1.0　A　g−1,　and　even　after　450　cycles,　it　maintains　a　reversible　capacity　of　597　mA　h　g−1.　Compared　with　pure　ZnS,　the　ZnS-NC　composite　exhibits　significantly　improved　rate　performance　and　cycling　stability.　This　enhancement　in　Li-storage　performance　can　be　attributed　to　a　synergistic　effect　within　the　ZnS-NC　composite,　which　arises　from　the　large　exposed　active　site　area,　efficient　ion/electron　transfer,　and　strong　interaction　between　the　ZnS　nanoparticles　and　the　carbon　framework.　Overall,　this　work　presents　an　eco-friendly　approach　for　developing　metal　sulfide-carbon　composites　with　exceptional　potential　for　energy　storage　applications.　©　2023　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.