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 Co3O4/C electrode is improved with a discharge capacity of ∼ 1164mAhg−1 at 0.1C rate compared with bare Co3O4 which continuously decreases and reaches ∼ 556mAhg−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.