We investigate the properties of nanosized TiO2 rutile by electrochemical methods and thermal analysis. The material shows a high capacity, high rate performance and excellent cycling stability. We can clearly prove the safer character of rutile electrodes by thermal analysis. The lithiated rutile electrodes exhibit exothermic reactions with a very small energy release and they are mainly related to surface film (SEI) decomposition. The impedance spectra strongly indicate the formation of a surface film, but the semicircles of charge transfer and SEI formation cannot be resolved at any potential. In addition a new pouch cell design which is suitable for in situ measurements such as FTIR, Raman and XRD is introduced and its efficiency is proven by in situ optical microscopy.