High-performance SiOx was scalable synthesized by means of simple high-energy ball-milling method, and used as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The electrochemical performance of SiOx electrode after high-energy ball-milling is improved effectively compared to raw SiOx. That is benefit for the reduced size of SiOx powder. By changing the species of conductive agents, improved cyclic performance and excellent rate capability were achieved. Under galvanostatic mode with current density of 0.3 A/g, SiOx electrode after high-energy ball-milling with optimized conductive agents delivers a reversible capacity of 1416.8 mAh/g with coulombic efficiency as high as 99.8% and capacity retention of 83.6% (1184.8 mAh/g) even after 100 cycles. The approach is simple and can be adopted for large scale production of high performance SiOx anode materials. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.