3D hierarchical nitrogen-doped ReS2 nanosheets/carbon composites were obtained by a solvothermal synthesis involving the reaction of Re-2(CO)(10) with sulfur, melamine and solvents (toluene/water). The incorporation of N atoms in the resulting ReS2/C composites was directed by the aggregation of carbonaceous matter from solvent and melamine, where the composite synthesized with toluene showed higher N content. This synthesis route, based on the selection of solvent, provides a simple approach to incorporate N atoms in a poorly crystalline structure for developing new functional ReS2 materials. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.