Self-supported　electrodes　represent　a　novel　architecture　for　better　performing　lithium　ion　batteries.　However,　lower　areal　capacity　restricts　their　commercial　application.　Here,　we　explore　a　facial　strategy　to　increase　the　areal　capacity　without　sacrificing　the　lithium　storage　performance.　A　hierarchical　CuO–Ge　hybrid　film　electrode　will　not　only　provide　high　areal　capacity　but　also　outstanding　lithium　storage　performance　for　lithium　ion　battery　anode.　Benefiting　from　the　favorable　structural　advance　as　well　as　the　synergic　effect　of　the　Ge　film　and　CuO　NWs　array,　the　hybrid　electrode　exhibits　a　high　areal　capacity　up　to　3.81　mA　h　cm−2,　good　cycling　stability　(a　capacity　retention　of　90.5%　after　150　cycles),　and　superior　rate　performance　(77.4%　capacity　remains　even　when　the　current　density　increased　to　10　times　higher).　©　Copyright　©　2020　Deng,　Li,　Li,　Cai,　Wang,　Zhang,　Jia,　Wang　and　Cheng.