Silicon-based　nanostructures　are　receiving　intense　interest　in　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs)　because　they　have　ultrahigh　lithium　ion　storage　ability.　However,　the　fast　capacity　fading　induced　by　the　considerably　tremendous　volume　changes　of　Si　anode　during　the　Li-ion　intercalation　processes　as　well　as　the　low　intrinsic　electric　conductivity　have　hindered　its　deployment.　Herein,　we　initially　developed　an　effective　technique　to　synthesize　the　core-shell　Si/nitrogen-doped　carbon　(Si/N-C),　composite　by　combining　in　situ　interfacial　polymerization　and　decorate　with　melamine,　followed　by　carbonization.　When　used　as　anode　material　for　LIBs,　the　Si/N-C　composite　delivered　a　notable　reversible　capacity　(1084　mAh　g-1　at　0.2　A　g-1　for　50　cycles)　and　high　rate　capability　(495　mAh　g-1　at　1　A　g-1).　©　2016　World　Scientific　Publishing　Company.