The effective evaluation of the catalytic performance of Co3O4 supported on an inert carrier was investigated toward the deep oxidation of light olefins. Thin Co3O4 films were deposited on grid mesh of stainless steel using one-step chemical vapor deposition method. The as-deposited materials were characterized in terms of structure, morphology and composition. Co3O4 crystals with cubic spinel structures composed of Co2+, Co3+ and nucleophilic oxygen species (O2−) were obtained. The catalytic results indicated that Co3O4 supported on steel mesh was highly active to enable the complete conversion of C3H6 and n-C4H8 with a Mars-van Krevelen type mechanism.