Mo doped vanadium oxide nanotubes (VONT) were prepared via a theological phase reaction followed by self-assembling process and were heated at 400 C in an inert atmosphere. The nanotubes were characterized by SEM, HRTEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical investigation, etc. In contrast to the undoped VONTs, the interlayer distance between oxide layers in the (V0.99Mo0.01)(x)ONTs increases owing to replacement of some V in nanotubes by Mo with a larger ionic radius, resulting in a shorten diffusion length of Li ions and an improved electrochemical performance. Moreover, this study reveals that the electrochemical performance of (V0.99Mo0.01)(x)ONTs is further enhanced by removing the residual organic template by heating in an inert atmosphere. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.