start-up fund from the University of South Carolina; Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program of the Division of Materials Research at the National Science Foundation [DMR-1006113]; NFFTBS [J1210014]; New Faculty Startup Fund of Wuhan University ; A facile and scalable single-step approach is employed to synthesize a bulk germanium electrode, which consists of nanoscale Ge-grains in similar to 5 mu m porous powders. This three-dimensional Ge electrode exhibits superior specific capacity (similar to 1500 mA h g(-1)) and cyclic performance, attributed to its unique lithiation/delithiation processes.