K2Ti6O13 nanowires with an average diameter of about 10 nm were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal reaction between Na2Ti3O7 and KOH. The nanowires were characterized by TEM, XRD, and EDX, and their growth was found to result from an ion exchange induced phase transition process. UV Vis absorption spectrum of the nanowires shows a red shift relative to that of the raw materials. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.