Carbon doped TiO2—Bronze nanostructures, preferably nanowires were synthesized via a facile doping mechanism and were exploited as active material for Li-ion batteries. Both the wire geometry and the presence of carbon doping contribute to high electrochemical performance of these materials. Direct carbon doping for example reduces the Li-ion diffusion length and improves the electrical conductivity of the wires, as demonstrated by cycling experiments, which evidenced remarkably higher capacities and superior rate capability over the undoped nanowires. The as prepared carbon-doped nanowires, evaluated in lithium half-cells, exhibited lithium storage capacity of ˜306 mA h g−1 (91% of the theoretical capacity) at the current rate of 0.1C as well as excellent discharge capacity of ˜160 mAh g−1 even at the current rate of 10C after 1000 charge/discharge cycles.