Carbon-supported　SnO2　nanowire　arrays　were　synthesized　by　a　facile　strategy　using　self-assembled　mesoporous　carbon　as　template　followed　by　partial　removal　of　the　carbon.　The　as-obtained　materials　were　characterized　by　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　thermogravimetric　analysis　(TGA)　and　nitrogen　adsorption.　The　resulting　products　possess　a　large　specific　surface　area　due　to　the　free　interspaces　between　the　nanowires.　When　evaluated　as　anode　materials　for　lithium-ion　batteries,　the　carbon-supported　SnO2　nanowires　can　deliver　large　reversible　capabilities　with　excellent　cycling　performance　on　account　of　the　mesoporous　carbon　matrix,　which　can　be　served　as　a　buffering　layer　to　relax　the　stress,　reduce　the　volume　variation,　and　protect　the　SnO2　nanowires　from　severe　structural　degradation　during　the　insertion-deinsertion　process　of　lithium　ions.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.