We studied the electrochemical response of a Li-intercalated V2O5 xerogel doped with Eu. We found that the electrochemical performance of the rare-earth doped xerogel is improved. This is attributed to bonding of the rare-earth ions to the residual H2O in the xerogel structure. The electronic structure of the original V2O5 xerogel is not drastically affected by the rare-earth doping. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.