Nano-silicon-based disordered carbon composites prepared by mechanical milling and pyrolysis have been examined as anodes of a lithium ion cell. Electrochemical measurements show that the charge-discharge capacity of disordered carbon composites incorporating both silicon-polyparaphenylene (Si-PPP) and silicon-polyvinyl chloride (Si-PVC) with differing silicon contents, decreases with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Si-PVC-based materials have a better cycle life than those based on Si-PPP at the same silicon content. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.