Rod-like nanocrystalline V3O7 center dot H2O has been synthesized hydrothermally via a simple and elegant route. Techniques X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms have been used to characterize the structure, morphology and composition of the materials. The as-prepared V3O7 center dot H2O nanorods are up to several of micrometers in length, about 130 nm in width and about 70 nm in thickness in average, respectively. Cyclic voltammetric characterization of thin films of V3O7 center dot H2O nanorods has revealed reversible redox behavior with charge-discharge cycling corresponding to the reversible lithium intercalation/deintercalation. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.