A　homogeneous　Nb-doped　rutile　TiO2　mesocrystal　material　was　synthesized　successfully　through　a　facile　hydrothermal　route.　The　incorporation　of　Nb5+　not　only　promotes　the　crystallization　of　the　building　subunits　of　the　rutile　TiO2　mesocrystal,　but　also　improves　the　electrochemical　performance　at　higher　current　rates.　A　capacity　of　96.3　mAh　g−1　at　a　current　density　as　high　as　40　C　and　an　excellent　long-term　cycling　stability　with　a　capacity　loss　of　approximately　0.006　%　per　cycle　at　5　C　could　be　achieved　when　an　appropriate　amount　of　Nb5+　was　doped　into　rutile　TiO2　mesocrystal.　The　reasons　for　the　improvement　of　rate　capability　may　be　attributed　to　the　enhancement　of　electronic　conductivity,　Li-ion　diffusion　kinetics,　and　the　surface　storage　property　for　the　Nb-doped　rutile　TiO2　mesocrystal.　©　2017　Wiley-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim