Embodiments of the present invention provide a cathode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery, where the cathode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery includes a silicon-based active substance and a nitrogen-doped carbon material. The silicon-based active substance is encased in the interior of the nitrogen-doped carbon material, and the silicon-based active substance is one or more of a nanoparticle and a nanowire; a micropore is arranged on at least one of the exterior and the interior of the nitrogen-doped carbon material; and a material of the nitrogen-doped carbon material is a nitrogen-doped carbon network. The cathode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery solves a problem in the prior art that a silicon material, when used as a cathode active material, easily falls from a current collector due to a great volume change and has a low conductivity.