Composite fiber electrodes and applications of same

A composite electrode, being a multi-fiber electrode, comprising:

• a membrane/separator or an electrically conductive substrate;
• and
• a fiber network coated on the membrane/separator or the electrically conductive substrate with an electrode ink comprising pre-formed fibers and a solvent,
• wherein the pre-formed fibers are pre-formed before preparation of the electrode ink via a fiber spinning process;
• wherein the pre-formed fibers comprise one or more polymers, and one or more particles;
• wherein said one or more particles comprise catalyst particles or particles of an electrochemically active material;
• and
• wherein the electrochemically active particles comprise silicon (Si) particles, Si nanoparticles, Si nanowires, Si-carbon particles, Si oxide particles, titania particles, and/or precious metal or non-precious metal catalysts particles on conductive or non-conductive supports, wherein the non conductive supports include titania or alumina, and wherein the conductive supports include carbon particles, graphite particles, carbon black particles, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, or a mixture thereof.