The Co3O4@Si nanowires configuration was successfully fabricated by employing the electroless metal deposition (EMD) technology and the following annealing in air. The nanostructure exhibits a uniform Co3O4 nanoparticles grafting on the solution-etched aligned Si nanowires. What is more important, the cost-effective and uncomplicated fabrication strategy as well as the obtained unique architecture will lead to perfect performance in many applications. When functioned as anode electrodes in lithium-ions battery, the Co3O4@Si nanowires configuration displays an excellent Lithium-ion battery performance with larger reversible capacity, more comforting cyclic performance and better rate capability compared with the commercial Co3O4 powders. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.