Hierarchically　porous　rutile　TiO2　microspheres　composed　of　nanorods　were　fabricated　by　using　a　facile　synthetic　route.　These　materials　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　N-2　adsorption-desorption,　and　scanning　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(SEM　and　TEM).　Based　on　a　series　of　experimental　results,　a　self-assembly　process　for　the　formation　of　the　hierarchical　microspheres　was　also　proposed.　Furthermore,　the　hierarchically　porous　rutile　TiO2　microspheres　were　used　as　the　negative　electrode　material　in　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs)　and　demonstrated　a　large　reversible　charge-discharge　capacity　of　160.4　mA　h　g(-1)　after　100　cycles　at　1　C,　which　was　much　greater　than　commercial　rutile　TiO2　under　the　same　conditions,　indicating　that　these　materials　had　excellent　cycling　stability　and　high　rate　performance.