A new strategy was applied to synthesise a porous nanostructure of α-Fe(2)O(3) xerogel assembled from nanocrystalline particles (∼5 nm) with abundant mesopores (∼3 nm) using a hydrothermal method. The α-Fe(2)O(3) xerogel exhibits excellent cycling performance (up to 1000 cycles) and rate capability (reversible discharging capacity 280 mAh g(-1) at 10 C) as a potential anode for high power lithium-ion batteries.