Wulff-shaped　and　nanorod-like　nanoporous　mesocrystals　constructed　from　ultrathin　rutile　TiO2　nanowires　were　successfully　fabricated　for　the　first　time　in　the　presence　of　the　surfactant　sodium　dodecyl　benzene　sulfonate　(SDBS).　SDBS　played　a　key　role　in　the　homoepitaxial　self-assembly　process,　in　which　titanate　nanowires　were　used　as　the　primary　building　blocks　for　forming　mesocrystals　accompanying　with　a　simultaneous　phase　transition.　The　nanoporous　rutile　TiO2　mesocrystals　have　a　large　surface　area　and　were　subjected　to　detailed　structural　characterization　by　means　of　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　scanning　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(SEM/TEM)　including　high-resolution　TEM　(HRTEM)　and　selected　area　electron　diffraction　(SAED).　Furthermore,　the　nanoporous　rutile　TiO2　mesocrystals　were　applied　as　the　electrode　materials　in　rechargeable　lithium-ion　batteries　and　demonstrated　a　large　reversible　charge-discharge　capacity,　excellent　cycling　stability　and　high　rate　performance.　These　properties　were　attributed　to　the　intrinsic　characteristic　of　the　mesoscopic　structured　TiO2　with　nanoporous　nature　and　larger　surface　area　(which　favored　fast　Li-ion　transport),　as　well　as　the　presence　of　sufficient　void　space　to　accommodate　the　volume　change.　©　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.