Hollow　SiO　2　microspheres　coated　with　a　nitrogen　doped　carbon　layer　are　synthesized　by　using　poly(acrylic　acid)　as　a　hollow　structure　template　and　dopamine　as　a　carbon　source.　Based　on　a　facile　self-polymerization　reaction,　nitrogen　doped　carbon　layer　can　be　easily　formed　on　the　surface　of　hollow　SiO　2　microspheres,　which　can　effectively　increase　the　electronic　conductivity　of　anode　material.　Moreover,　the　hollow　structure　and　N　doped　carbon　layer　can　improve　lithium　ion　diffusivity　and　accommodate　volume　change　of　SiO　2　anode　simultaneously　and　hence　exhibits　excellent　rate　capabilities　and　superior　cycling　stability.　For　example,　a　high　reversible　specific　capacity　of　587　mA　h　g　−1　can　be　remained　at　a　current　density　of　1.0　A　g　−1　after　600　cycles,　with　0.03%　decade　each　cycle.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd