In this work, Co3O4 as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries is prepared by using molten-salt method that combines with carbon coating approach to prevent the cracking structure resulting from the Li+ insertion/deinsertion during the cycling process. Co3O4 and Co3O4/C are systematically characterized using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), thermogravimetric analysis and electrochemical testing. HRTEM observations demonstrate a thick layer of amorphous carbon that bound completely around Co3O4 particles. The electrochemical testing results indicate that the performances of Co(3)O(4)n/C electrode is improved with a discharge capacity of similar to 1164 mAh g(-1) at 0.1C rate compared with bare Co3O4 which continuously decreases and reaches similar to 556 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles. The results show that the carbon coating improves the battery performance and the overall consistency as compared to pure Co3O4 in terms of capacity and cyclability. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.