<p>Abundant silicon anode materials are promising candidates for high-energy–density lithium-ion batteries due to their exceptional theoretical specific capacity. However, the significant volume expansion (~ 300%) during the lithiation/delithiation cycles leads to the fragmentation of active particles, thereby reducing battery lifespan. In this study, a pSi@C/Fe₃O₄ composite was synthesized using ferrocene as the carbon source. The effects of hydrothermal reaction temperature and hydrochloric acid pretreatment on structural morphology were systematically investigated, and the lithium storage performance of the composites was evaluated. The results showed that the pSi@C/Fe₃O₄-210 ℃-HCl electrode exhibited an initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 70.87%, an initial discharge capacity of 1719 mAh g⁻¹, and retained a high reversible capacity of 741 mAh g⁻¹ after 160 cycles at 0.5 A g⁻¹. Additionally, it demonstrated a reversible capacity of 857 mAh g⁻¹ even after cycling at a high current density of 2 A g⁻¹. These enhanced electrochemical performances are attributed to the porous structure and protective coating, which mitigate the volume expansion of the silicon anode and reduce the Li⁺ diffusion path. This study offers valuable insights for the future commercialization of micron-sized silicon-based anodes.</p>