Abstract: Silicon (Si) has been considered to be one of the most competitive candidate anode for next-generation lithium-ion batteries because of its high specific capacity. Nevertheless, the large-scale commercialization of Si-based materials is hindered by unstable cycling due to the poor electronic conductivity and huge volume changes during charge-discharge processes. In this review, the mechanisms of the lithium storage and the failure principle in silicon are discussed. Nanostructure design of silicon, silicon-based composites, new binders and electrolytes/electrolyte additives, as well as the prelithiation technologies are used for improving the electrochemical performance of Si-based anodes. At the end of this review, structural design and modification of Si-based anodes are summarized, and the prospect of high-capacity Si-based electrodes in high-energy lithium-ion batteries is proposed as well.