Graphite　composite　electrodes　mixed　with　silicon　are　proposed　as　next　generation　anode　material　for　high　energy　and　high　power　applications.　In　order　to　overcome　drawbacks　caused　by　volume　changes　of　silicon　particles　during　electrochemical　cycling　and　to　maintain　high　specific　capacities　at　enhanced　Crates,　free-standing　structures　are　generated　on　silicon/graphite　electrodes　by　applying　ultrafast　laser　ablation.　Electrochemical　properties　are　systematically　investigated　by　means　of　galvanostatic　measurements,　cyclic　voltammetry,　and　electrochemical　impedance　spectroscopy.　Cells　with　structured　electrodes　exhibit　improved　battery　performances　and　lithium-ion　transport　kinetics　in　comparison　to　cells　with　unstructured　electrodes.　Furthermore,　the　cells　with　structured　electrodes　exhibit　a　lower　impedance　at　fully　lithiated　state.　After　cycling,　post-mortem　analysis　is　performed　revealing　that　the　mechanical　stress　within　the　electrodes　and　current　collector　can　be　significantly　reduced　due　to　laser　generated　free-standing　structures.　(c)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.