CoO-NiO-C　nanocomposite　materials　with　different　morphology　are　successfully　synthesized　by　using　co-precipitation　and　subsequent　pyrolytic　carbon　reduction　method.　The　structure　and　morphology　of　obtained　materials　are　investigated　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM).　The　XRD　patterns　of　samples　display　the　diffraction　peaks　of　3CoO.5NiO　cubic　crystal.　Moreover,　the　synthesis　conditions　which　strongly　impact　on　the　morphology　and　electrochemical　properties　of　the　CoO-NiO-C　materials　are　systematically　investigated.　When　CoO-NiO-C　materials　are　used　as　anodes　for　lithium　ion　batteries,　the　sample　obtained　at　600　degrees　C　exhibits　the　best　cycling　performance,　which　shows　a　reversible　capacity　about　562　mAh　g(-1)　at　the　current　density　100　mA　g(-1)　after　60　cycles.　On　the　other　hand,　this　material　also　exhibits　a　superior　rate　performance.　The　excellent　performance　of　samples　could　be　attributed　to　the　small　and　uniform　particle　size　and　introducing　of　metal　oxides　composite　structure,　which　could　improve　the　kinetic　behavior　and　accommodate　the　volume　changes　during　cycling.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.