With　the　aim　of　developing　high　performance　anode　(negative)　materials　for　sodium　ion　batteries　(NIBs),　rutile　TiO2　with　mesocrystalline　structure　were　designed　and　used　for　enhancing　the　discharge　capacity　and　reaction　kinetics.　The　nanoporous　rutile　TiO2　mesocrystals　constructed　by　crystallographically　oriented　nanoparticle　subunits　with　tunable　microstructures　were　successfully　prepared　via　a　facile　synthesis　route.　Such　rutile　TiO2　architecture　possesses　a　large　surface　area　(157　m2　g-1),　nanoporous　nature　and　single-crystal-like　structure,　which　could　provide　a　high　level　of　accessibility　for　the　electrolyte　and　more　active　sites,　and　allow　the　fast　electron　and　ion　transport　compared　with　the　irregularly　oriented　nanoparticles.　When　evaluated　as　an　anode　material　for　sodium-ion　storage,　this　unique　architecture　exhibited　a　high　reversible　capacity　over　350　mA　h　g-1　at　50　mA　g-1,　superior　rate　capability　with　a　stable　capacity　of　151　mA　h　g-1　at　2　A　g-1　and　good　cycling　stability.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry　2015.