Lithium　ion　batteries,　which　are　secondary　battery　with　the　high　specific　energy,　play　an　increasingly　important　role　in　the　field　of　sustainable　energy.　In　order　to　explore　the　next　generation　of　lithium　ion　batteries　with　higher　specific　energy　density,　many　electrode　materials　with　high　specific　capacity　are　being　researched　and　developed.　However,　these　materials　usually　display　the　large　volume　change　during　lithiation　and　delithiation　process.　Therefore,　it　is　necessary　to　prepare　nanostructures　to　achieve　better　electrochemical　performance.　However,　the　nanostructure　leads　to　low　Coulombic　efficiency,　poor　cycling　stability　and　relatively　low　specific　energy　density,　which　can　be　ascribed　to　its　high　specific　surface　area　and　low　tap　density.　The　assembly　of　nanomaterials　into　a　hierarchical　structure　can　effectively　reduce　the　overall　specific　surface　area,　and　limit　the　consumption　of　lithium　during　the　formation　of　solid　state　interphase　(SEI)　film,　leading　to　the　increase　of　the　initial　Coulombic　efficiency.　Compared　with　the　disordered　build-up　of　nanoparticles,　the　hierarchical　structure　has　a　higher　accumulation　density　and　contact　area,　thus　leading　to　the　decrease　of　porosity　and　the　increase　of　build-up　density　of　the　electrode　materials.　Therefore,　the　hierarchical　structure　of　electrode　materials　can　further　increased　the　specific　energy　density　of　lithium　ion　batteries.　In　this　review,　we　mainly　focus　on　the　preparation　of　hierarchical　structure　in　lithium　ion　batteries　and　its　application　in　lithium　ion　batteries.　In　terms　of　preparation,　solvothermal　method,　emulsion　method,　spray　drying　method　and　template　method　are　mainly　described　as　well　as　effect　of　various　parameters　on　the　final　hierarchical　structure.　In　terms　of　application,　different　hierarchical　structures　are　reviewed　with　the　purpose　of　improving　performances　of　lithium　ion　batteries　as　the　mainline.