Hierarchical　TiO2　nanostructures　have　shown　a　good　prospect　for　energy　storage　and　conversion.　However,　the　intrinsic　low　conductivity　and　sluggish　reaction　kinetics　greatly　hamper　their　applications　as　the　anode　materials　for　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs).　Herein,　an　eco-friendly　route　has　been　developed　as　a　scalable　strategy　for　preparing　the　anatase　TiO2　nanostructures　via　a　simple　template-free　hydrothermal　process.　The　as-made　TiO2　product　has　a　high　surface　area　of　146.3　m(2)　g(-1)　and　a　unique　hierarchically　branched　nanostructure,　which　is　constructed　by　the　rigid　trunk　and　flexible　nanosheets.　Significantly,　the　product　demonstrates　the　uniform　distribution　of　carbon/nitrogen　in　the　TiO2　architecture.　Benefiting　from　these　unique　structural　features,　the　TiO2-400　electrode　shows　a　superior　electrochemical　performance　for　reversible　lithium　storage,　demonstrating　a　high　reversible　capacity　of　268.2　mA　h　g(-1)　at　100　mA　g(-1)　after　600　cycles　and　long　cycling　life.　This　study　also　opens　a　new　window　for　rational　design　of　hierarchical　nanostructures　with　excellent　properties　by　an　environmentally　benign　technique.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.