A smart hybrid nanowire array consisting of Co3O4 porous nanowire core and a MnO2 ultrathin nanosheet shell is fabricated using a general 3D interfacial carbon-assisted hydrothermal method. The array exhibits a high capacitance with good cycle performance and remarkable rate capability that is ranging among the best reported to date for hybrid metal oxide systems in the absence of a conducting matrix. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.