We report carbon-coated porous silica macroparticles (SiO2@C) prepared using polymeric templates and subsequent carbonization with sucrose for improved electrochemical energy storage in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In addition, boron is introduced to improve the stability of electrochemical cells by pyrolyzing mixtures of sucrose and boric acid (SiO2@C + B) under inert atmosphere. The initially large surface area of porous SiO2 (S-BET similar to 658 m(2) g(-1)) is reduced to 102 m(2) g(-1) after carbonization and introduction of boric acid. Surface of both SiO2@C and SiO2@C + B are covered with amorphous carbon. In particular, SiO2@C + B particles containing borosilicate (Si-O-B) phase and B-O bondings and Si-C-O bondings are also detected from the X-ray photoelectron spectra. The SiO2@C + B macroparticles shows high reversible charge capacity up to 503 mAh g(-1) after 103 cycles of Li intercalation/deintercalation although initial capacity was 200 mAh g. The improved charge capacity of SiO2@C + B is attributed to formation of advantageous microstructures induced from boric acid. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.