In this study, ultralong single-crystal TiO2-B nanowires were successfully synthesized starting from Ti2O3 or TiO powder by the hydrothermal process and post-treatments. The diameters of nanowires are ca. similar to 50 nm and the length up to hundreds of micrometers. Formation of the crystallized TiO2-B in the ultralong nanowires was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements. Electrochemical measurements have indicated that the electrode material made of TiO2-B nanowires shows irreversible intercalation/deintercalation of lithium ions into/out of the matrix and tends to loss active with increasing cycling. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.