Fabrication and electrochemical behavior of flower-like ZnO-CoO-C nanowall arrays as anodes for lithium-ion batteries

► Flower-like ZnO-CoO-C nanowall arrays were fabricated through solution-immersion steps and subsequent calcinations. ► The arrays exhibited high capacity and rate capability as anodes of lithium-ion batteries. ► The catalytic effect of Co phase on the decomposition of Li2O mainly account for the high capacity. ► The conducting carbon layer formed on ZnO nanowalls is responsible for the high rate capability.