Silicon/carbon nanocomposite as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries is synthesized by a simple route using phenolic resin as a precursor. The Si nanoparticles with the size of 50-200 nm in diameter can be uniformly coated by carbon layer when the content of carbon is 58%. As an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the Si/C nanocomposite exhibits a reversible capacity of 678 inAh g(-1) after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g(-1) as well as excellent capacity retention at high rates. These improvements could be attributed to the introduction of carbon in the Si/C nanocomposite and carbon coatings on the surface of Si, which provide a rapid lithium transport pathway, reduce the cell impedance and stabilize the electrode structure during charge/discharge cycles. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.