Pulsed laser deposited nanocrystalline V2O5 thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and optical spectroscopy. The films were deposited on amorphous glass substrates, keeping the O-2 partial pressure at 13.33 Pa and the substrate temperature at 220 degrees C. The characteristics of the films were changed by varying the laser fluence and repetition rate. XRD revealed that films are nanocrystalline with an orthorhombic structure. XPS shows the sub-stoichiometry of the films, that generally relies on the fact that during the formation process of V2O5 films, lower valence oxides are also created. From the HRTEM images, we observed the size evolution and distribution characteristics of the clusters in the function of the laser fluence. From the spectral transmittance we determined the absorption edge using the Tauc plot. Calculation of the Bohr radius for V2O5 is also reported. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.