Flexible nano-felts are prepared from electrospun carbon nanofibers (CNEs) embedded with V2O3 nanoparticles (V2O3/CNF) and directly applied as self-supported electrodes for high-performance lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Uniform V2O3 nanoparticles are well dispersed and/or embedded into each CNF with desirable electrical conductivity. Thus, a three-dimensional open structure is formed, which provides a highly conductive pathway for rapid charge-transfer reactions, greatly improving the surface active sites of V2O3 for fast lithiation/delithiation of Li+ ions. The flexible V2O3/CNF composite membrane electrode exhibits a synergistically improved electrochemical performance having a remarkable specific capacity of 500 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1), a capable rate capability of 100 mAh g(-1) even at a very high current density of 5000 mA g-1, and excellent cycling stability after 5000 cycles, indicating it would be suitable for energy-related applications, particularly as binder-free and flexible LIB electrodes. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.