A carbon/SnO<sub>2</sub> composite (C-SnO<sub>2</sub>) with hierarchical photonic
structure was fabricated from the templates of butterfly wings. We
have investigated for the first time its application as the anode
material for lithium-ion batteries. It was demonstrated to have high
reversible capacities, good cycling stability, and excellent high-rate
discharge performance, as shown by a capacitance of ∼572 mAh
g<sup>–1</sup> after 100 cycles, 4.18 times that of commercial
SnO<sub>2</sub> powder (137 mAh g<sup>–1</sup>); a far better
recovery capability of 94.3% was observed after a step-increase and
sudden-recovery current. An obvious synergistic effect was found between
the porous, hierarchically photonic microstructure and the presence
of carbon; the synergy guarantees an effective flow of electrolyte
and a short diffusion length of lithium ions, provides considerable
buffering room, and prevents aggregation of SnO<sub>2</sub> particles
in the discharge/charge processes. This nature-inspired strategy points
out a new direction for the fabrication of alternative anode materials