Hollow　SiO2　microspheres　coated　with　a　nitrogen　doped　carbon　layer　are　synthesized　by　using　poly(acrylic　acid)　as　a　hollow　structure　template　and　dopamine　as　a　carbon　source.　Based　on　a　facile　self-polymerization　reaction,　nitrogen　doped　carbon　layer　can　be　easily　formed　on　the　surface　of　hollow　SiO2　microspheres,　which　can　effectively　increase　the　electronic　conductivity　of　anode　material.　Moreover,　the　hollow　structure　and　N　doped　carbon　layer　can　improve　lithium　ion　diffusivity　and　accommodate　volume　change　of　SiO2　anode　simultaneously　and　hence　exhibits　excellent　rate　capabilities　and　superior　cycling　stability.　For　example,　a　high　reversible　specific　capacity　of　587　mA　h　g−1　can　be　remained　at　a　current　density　of　1.0　A　g−1　after　600　cycles,　with　0.03%　decade　each　cycle.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd