Gold nanoparticles were electrodeposited on carbon non-woven substrates from an acidic, alkaline free HAuCl4 electrolyte. The electrochemical behavior of the electrolyte was characterized by potentiostatic experiments. The deposition of the gold nanoparticles was performed by pulse plating, where the particles size distribution and surface coverage are adjusted by variation of the pulse parameters. A homogeneous surface coverage of 2.3% with a mean diameter of the gold nanoparticles of about 54 nm is obtained. The electroplating process is scaled up to a substrate size of 150 cm2. The gold nanoparticles are used as catalytic nuclei for the growth of Si nanowires by vapor liquid solid mechanism. Finally, the basic applicability of these Si nanowire arrays as highly loaded anode for lithium ion batteries is demonstrated. The various reactions during (de)lithiation and their contribution to the anode capacity are identified, and performance features are exemplarily determined by half-cell tests of such a typical anode.