Crystalline silicon has been deposited onto the surface of mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) particles by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using silane as the precursor gas. The microstructure of the Si-coated MCMB was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. It was found that the Si coated on the surface of MCMB particles exists in the crystalline state, and Si-coated MCMB exhibits increased reversible capacity compared to pristine MCMB without sacrificing its cycling behavior. As a result, Si-coated MCMB emerges as a promising anode material for secondary lithium-ion batteries. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.