Amorphous silicon nanowires (a-SiNWs) have been prepared by electrospinning a liquid silane-based precursor. Cyclohexasilane (Si6H12) was admixed with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in toluene giving an ink that was electrospun into the Si6H12/PPMA wires with diameters of 50-2000 nm. Raman spectroscopy revealed that thermal treatment at 350 degrees C transforms this deposit into a-SiNWs. These materials were coated with a thin carbon layer and then tested as half-cells where a reasonable plateau in electrochemical cycling was observed after an initial capacity fade. Additionally, porous a-SiNWs were realized when the thermally decomposable binder polypropylene carbonate/polycyclohexene carbonate was used as the polymer carrier. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3466994] All rights reserved.