The performance of rechargeable Li-ion batteries is mainly associated with their kinetic problems linked to the solid-state diffusion of Li in intercalation electrodes and the quality of interfaces. To solve the kinetic problems of NiO anodes, we have developed novel coating techniques to prepare NiO@C nanoplates using oleic acid as the carbon resource and evaluated as electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The as-prepared NiO@C using oleic acid and NiO nanoplates as precursors exhibited a reversible capacity of 883 mAh g−1 over 50 cycles. The excellent electrochemical property could be attributed to high electric conduction and unique carbon nanolayer in the shell, which could alleviate the structural strain, and form a stable SEI film on the surface of composites. This work demonstrates such coating precursor techniques are effective to solve above-mentioned kinetic problems of electrode materials, and would direct us to prepare other composites for electrochemical devices.