Novel　plum-branch-like　carbon　nanofibers　(CNFs)　decorated　with　SnO2　nanocrystals　have　been　synthesized　by　electrospinning　and　subsequent　thermal　treatment　in　an　Ar/H2O　atmosphere.　The　morphologies　of　the　as-synthesized　SnO2/CNF　composites　and　the　contents　of　carbon　and　SnO2　can　be　controlled　by　adjusting　the　heat　treatment　temperature.　It　is　proposed　that　the　growth　of　SnO2/CNF　composites　follows　the　outward　diffusion　of　tin　composites　from　the　as-spun　tin　composite/polyacrylonitrile　(PAN)　nanofibers,　pyrolysis　of　PAN　and　oxidation　of　tin　composites,　and　then　formation　of　SnO2　nanocrystals　around　the　CNFs.　This　novel　1D　SnO2/CNF　composite　may　have　potential　application　in　nanobatteries,　nano　fuel　cells,　and　nanosensors.　A　preliminary　result　has　revealed　that　the　SnO2/CNF　composite　presents　favourable　electrochemical　performance　in　lithium-ion　batteries.