Wulff-shaped　and　nanorod-like　nanoporous　mesocrystals　constructed　from　ultrathin　rutile　TiO　2　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　TiO　2　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　TiO　2　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　TiO　2　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.