Mesoporous titanium dioxide nanotubes (MTDNTs) were prepared by electrospinning and subsequent thermal treatment. The as-synthesized MTDNTs possess anatase mischcrystal structure, hollow texture morphology, and a relatively high specific surface area of 93.6 m(2) g(-1) with a pore volume of 0.2190 cm(-3) g(-1). The nanotube walls of MTDNTs act as a host for sulfur and the hollow structure is favorable for the fast transmission of Li+ ions. After sulfur was encapsulated into the pores of nanotube walls of MTDNTs, the MTDNTs/S composite electrode displays a relatively good cycling performance and especially excellent rate performance (about 610 mAh g(-1) at 8 C). The retention capacity can be up to 74.2% when the discharge rate increases from 0.5C to 8.0 C. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.