We prepared single-crystal Si nanoparticles (Si NPs) similar to 50 nm in diameter using a laser photopyrolysis technique and formed a nitrogen-doped carbon layer on them using pyrrole and FeCl3 to increase the cycle stability of the Si anodes during volume expansion and contraction. The surface chemical bonding states of the nitrogen-doped carbon-coated Si NPs were investigated. The specific capacity and capacity retention of the sample with 1 g of FeCl3 were the highest at approximately 967.1 mAh g(-1) and 87.3% after 300 cycles at 1 C, respectively. The diffusion coefficient of Li ions after 1000 test cycles was 9.64 x 10(-8) cm(2) s(-1). The higher cycling stability of the Si@NC NPs could be attributed to the nitrogen doped carbon layers, which provided an efficient transport pathway for the electrons. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.