The first principal calculation based on the density functional theory was performed to investigate the hydrogen storage behavior of Li-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). It was found that, through Li-doping, two new adsorption sites for hydrogen molecules are created in addition to the inherent three adsorptive sites which are exterior, interior and interstitial regions of pristine SWCNTs: the first site (denoted 'region 1') is the nanotube's sidewall whose electronic distribution status is influenced by the doped Li atoms. The second site (denoted 'region 2') exists on the positively charged Li atoms which result from the transfer of electrons from the Li atoms to the SWCNTs. The calculations show that although the adsorption energy in region 1 increases somewhat, the adsorption behavior of hydrogen is marginally different from that of pristine SWCNTs. However, in region 2, at least three hydrogen molecules can be adsorbed by each charged Li-atom, and based on the maximum Langmuir coverage (of 0.55), 1.1 hydrogen molecules can be adsorbed onto each charged Li-atom. When this result is considered together with the effective specific surface area, the hydrogen storage capacities of Li-doped SWCNTs with the doping ratio of LiC15 are approximately 0.1 wt% in region 1 and 1.17 wt% in region 2 at 10 MPa and 300 K so that the total H-2 storage capability is 1.27 wt%, which agrees well with previously reported results. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.