In this study, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and mesoporous SiO2-carbon nanofibers composite were synthesized and applied as the anode materials in lithium secondary batteries. CNFs and mesoporous SiO2-CNFs composite were grown via chemical vapor deposition method with iron-copper catalysts. Mesoporots SiO2 materials were prepared by sol-gel method using tetraethylorthosilicate as the silica source and cetyltrimethylammoniumchlorftle as the template. Ethylene was used as the carbon source and passes into a quartz reactor of a tube furnace heated to 600 degrees C, and the temperature was maintained at 600 degrees C for 10 min to synthesize CNFs and mesoporous SiO2-CNFs composite. The electrochemical characteristics of the as-prepared CNFs and mesoporous SiO2-CNFs composite as the anode of lithium secondary batteries were investigated using a three-electrode cell. In particular, the mesoporous SiO2-CNFs composites synthesized without binder after depositing mesoporous SiO2 on Ni foam showed the highest charging and discharging capacity and retention rate. The initial capacity (2420 mAh/g) of mesoporous SiO2-CNFs composites decreased to 2092 mAh/g after 30 cycles at a retention rate of 86.4%. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.