In　this　study,　we　synthesize　TiO2@SnO2@TiO2　hollow　spheres,　in　which　a　tin　dioxide　(SnO2)　layer　was　encapsulated　in　double-shell　titanium　dioxide　(TiO2)　hollow　spheres　(the　spheres　are　denoted　TST)　through　biomimetic　layer-by-layer　mineralization　combined　with　etching　of　the　template　SiO2.　When　used　as　the　anode　material　for　lithium　ion　batteries,　TST　displayed　average　rechargeable　discharge　capacities　of　426,　328,　272,　231,　174　and　118　mAh/g　at　100,　200,　400,　800,　1600　and　3200　mA/g,　respectively.　The　uniform　TST　retained　a　discharge　capacity　of　286　mAh/g　after　500　cycles　at　a　high　rate　of　800　mA/g,　which　is　superior　to　that　of　control　SnO2@TiO2　hollow　spheres.　The　good　performance　of　TST　is　attributed　to　the　following　reasons.　First,　the　unique　structure　of　TST　consisted　of　a　SnO2　layer　sandwiched　between　two　TiO2　layers;　the　confinement　effect　of　the　TiO2　shells　are　proposed　to　mitigate　the　volume　change　of　SnO2　during　lithium　insertion/extraction.　Second,　the　composites　combine　the　advantages　of　the　high　capacity　of　SnO2　and　structural　stability　of　TiO2.　Spatial　confinement　between　the　double　TiO2　shells　may　play　an　important　role　in　enhancing　the　lithium　storage　reaction　of　TST.　(C)　2018　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.