Mesoporous Cr2O3 with a high specific surface area of 162 m2 g−1 is prepared by the solution combustion method. The mesoporous Cr2O3 has a sheet structure, which consists of nanoparticles with an average size of 20nm. As an anode electrode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the mesoporous Cr2O3 nanoparticles display enhanced electrochemical performance. Stable and reversible capacity of 480mA h g−1 after 55 cycles is demonstrated. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the Cr2O3 can be attributed to the high surface area and morphological characteristics of mesoporous materials.