Tin oxide (SnO
2) nanotubes with a fiber‐in‐tube structure have been prepared by electrospinning and the mechanism of their formation has been investigated. Tin oxide‐carbon composite nanofibers with a filled structure were formed as an intermediate product, which were then transformed into SnO
2 nanotubes with a fiber‐in‐tube structure during heat treatment at 500 °C. Nanofibers with a diameter of 85 nm were found to be located inside hollow nanotubes with an outer diameter of 260 nm. The prepared SnO
2 nanotubes had well‐developed mesopores. The discharge capacities of the SnO
2 nanotubes at the 2nd and 300th cycles at a current density of 1 A g
?1 were measured as 720 and 640 mA h g
?1, respectively, and the corresponding capacity retention measured from the 2nd cycle was 88 %. The discharge capacities of the SnO
2 nanotubes at incrementally increased current densities of 0.5, 1.5, 3, and 5 A g
?1 were 774, 711, 652, and 591 mA h g
?1, respectively. The SnO
2 nanotubes with a fiber‐in‐tube structure showed superior cycling and rate performances compared to those of SnO
2 nanopowder. The unique structure of the SnO
2 nanotubes with a fiber@void@tube configuration improves their electrochemical properties by reducing the diffusion length of the lithium ions, and also imparts greater stability during electrochemical cycling.
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