  In present work, we report on the use of organized TiO$_2$ nanotube layers
with a regular intertube spacing for the growth of highly defined
$\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$ nano-needles in the interspace. These $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$
decorated TiO$_2$ NTs are then explored for Li-ion battery applications and
compared to classic close-packed NTs that are both decorated with various
amounts of nanoscale $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$. We show that nanotubes with
tube-to-tube spacing allow a uniform decoration of individual nanotubes with
regular arrangements of hematite nano-needles. The tube spacing also
facilitates the electrolyte penetration as well as yields better ion diffusion.
While bare close-packed NTs show higher capacitance, e.g., 71 $\mu$Ah cm-2 than
bare spaced NTs with e.g., 54 $\mu$Ah cm-2, the hierarchical decoration with
secondary metal oxide, $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$, remarkably enhances the Li-ion
battery performance. Namely, spaced nanotubes with $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$
decoration have an areal capacitance of 477 $\mu$Ah cm-2, i.e., show up to
nearly ~8 times higher capacitance. However, the areal capacitance of
close-packed NTs with $\alpha$-Fe$_2$O$_3$ decoration saturates at 208 $\mu$Ah
cm-2, i.e., is limited to ~3 times increase.
