A new technique for synthesizing double layer anodes with silicon monoxide and Li powder has been developed to reduce the initial capacity loss of silicon monoxide anodes. Double layer anode (DLA) cells are fabricated using Li emulsified powders on a Cu foil and silicon monoxide powders on a Cu mesh collector and their electrochemical behaviors are studied. The DLA cells show reduced initial irreversibility and enhanced coulombic efficiency. The coulombic efficiency of the first cycle of the DLA cell is over 100% and its capacity remains as 700 mAh g(-1) up to 20 cycles. SEM observation shows that the Li-powder layer in DLA compensated for the initial irreversible loss and vanished after several cycles. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.