Vanadium oxide hydrate (H2V3O8) nanorods to be used as cathode material in secondary batteries were synthesized using a hydrothermal method without templates and reducing agents. The obtained pristine product was characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry and charge/discharge studies were conducted to examine the electrochemical performance of cathodes made of these vanadium oxide hydrate nanorods. The specific capacity of the vanadium oxide hydrate nanorods is 292 mAh/g, the columbic efficiency is about 95%. The calculated capacities are 42.8 F/g at 5 mV/s and 39.2 F/g at 10 mV/s scan rate. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.