Photocatalytic　water　splitting　for　hydrogen　evolution　provides　an　attractive　strategy　for　clean,　low-cost,　and　environment-friendly　production　of　hydrogen　from　solar　energy.　Here,　the　film　composite　of　Co3O4　nanoparticles　decorated　well-defined　one-dimensional　(1D)　silicon　nanowires　arrays　(SiNWs@Co3O4)　are　constructed　by　employing　SiNWs　arrays　as　a　building　block　via　a　facile　calcination　approach.　In　comparison　with　bare　SiNWs　arrays,　the　resultant　SiNWs@Co3O4　arrays　composite　exhibits　distinctly　enhanced　photocatalytic　performance　for　the　evolution　of　hydrogen.　The　enhanced　photoactivity　is　attributed　to　the　formation　of　a　direct　Z-scheme　band　alignment　in　the　SiNWs@Co3O4　film　composite,　which　results　in　an　improved　spatial　separation　and　migration　of　photoinduced　electron-hole　pairs　as　compared　to　bare　SiNWs　under　light　irradiation.　Our　work　is　anticipated　to　promote　ongoing　interest　in　the　design　of　high-performance　artificial　1D-based　Z-scheme　film　photocatalysts　with　enhanced　performance.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.