The Si@SiC@Si3N4 composites with core-shell structure were synthesized by a catalytic nitridation method, Si powder and phenolic resin were used as the raw materials, ferric nitrate was used as the catalyst. The effect of catalyst content on synthetic powders was investigated. The results indicated that when no catalyst was added, a small amount of whiskers were formed on the surface of the Si powder. The addition of the catalyst could effectively promote the formation of SiC and Si3N4, and a double-layer core-shell structure was formed in which the inner shell is a SiC plate and the outer shell is a Si3N4 whisker. However, excessive addition of the catalyst caused the resulting Si3N4 whiskers to distorted and intertwined. The prepared composite materials (5 wt% catalyst) exhibited good rate capability and a specific capacitance of approximately 200 F/g at 0.5-3 A/g. Finally, the possible formation mechanism of this core-shell structure was proposed. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.