Ti-based　materials　have　been　intensively　investigated　and　considered　as　good　potential　negative　electrode　materials　for　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs)　due　to　their　high　safety,　superior　rate　capability　and　excellent　cyclic　stability.　This　feature　article　summarizes　the　recent　progress　of　a　new　class　of　layered　titanate　(H2TinO2n+1·H2O)　nanostructures　and　their　derivatives,　including　TiO2　polymorphs,　novel　titanate　nanostructures　of　Zn2Ti3O8,　Li2MTi3O8　(M　=　Co,　Zn,　Mg)　and　Li　4Ti5O12,　as　high　performance　negative　electrode　materials　for　LIBs.　The　effects　of　the　composition,　crystal　structure　and　morphology　on　lithium-ion　intercalation　properties　are　highlighted　and　analyzed.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.