Vanadium oxide/titanate composites nanorods (VOx/titanate-CNRs) were synthesized with a high yield by using titanate nanotubes as templates and V2O5 nH(2)O sol as precursor under hydrothermal conditions (200degreesC, 48 h). Samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive analysis. The new phase has the composition V3O7.H2O and crystallizes with orthorhombic symmetry. The samples are uniform straight rods with 100-300 nm in diameter and more than 10 mum in length. The initial electrochemical capacitance behavior of VOx/titanate-CNRs is better than that of pure V2O5. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.