Hierarchical　nitrogen-doped　carbon　spheres　(NCSs)　prepared　by　annealing　the　MnO2-templated　spherical　polypyrrole　(PPy)　at　450　or　600　degrees　C　were　tested　as　anode　materials　of　Li-ion　batteries.　The　NCSs　annealed　at　450　degrees　C　exhibited　higher　nitrogen　content,　more　amorphous　carbon　structure,　and　lower　surface　area　as　compared　to　the　sample　annealed　at　600　degrees　C.　The　specific　capacities　and　rate　performances　of　both　NCSs　samples　were　much　higher　than　that　of　commercial　mesocarbon　microbeads　(MCMBs).　The　NCSs　annealed　at　600　degrees　C　exhibited　higher　capacity　at　low　current　density　(＜0.5　A　g(-1))　but　more　rapid　capacity　decay　at　elevated　current　rates　referring　to　the　sample　annealed　at　450　degrees　C.　The　NCSs　annealed　at　higher　temperature　also　possessed　inferior　cycling　stability,　possibly　due　to　its　lower　electronic　conductivity　and　higher　degree　of　graphitization.　A　high　specific　capacity　of　250.8　mAh　g(-1)　was　achieved　on　the　NCSs　annealed　at　450　degrees　C　at　3　A　g(-1),　demonstrating　their　high　potentiality　as　anode　of　high　power　Li-ion　batteries.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.