Nanostructure-derived interfacial effect plays a great role in enhancing catalytic activities. Herein, a MnO2 nanowires@NiO nanosheets core-shell hybrid nanostructure was successfully prepared by uniformly decorating NiO nanosheets on the one-dimensional MnO2 nanowires. The physi-chemical properties of the MnO2 and MnO2@NiO were characterized by using XRD, BET, SEM, H-2-TPR and XPS techniques. Compared to the single MnO2 nanowires, the MnO2@NiO nanocomposite with better low-temperature reducibility and more active surface oxygen species exhibited much better performance in complete oxidation of benzene, giving the temperatures for 100% benzene conversion of 320 degrees C under the conditions of 1000 ppm benzene in air and space velocity of 120,000 mL g(-1) h(-1) while the value over pure MnO2 was 380 degrees C. The novel hetero-interface constructed between MnO2 and NiO core-shell nanostructures might make a great contribution on this significantly promoting effect.