Monodisperse VO2(B) nanospheres with an average size of 100 nm were synthesized by hydrothermal method Experiments showed that the surfactant octadecyl-amine played an important role during the formation of the nanospheres, and possible mechanism was suggested Moreover, the potential uses of VO2 nanospheres were prunatily probed as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved