Organic carbon coated vanadium dioxide (VO2(B)@C) core-shell structured nanobelts were successfully synthesized using V2O5 and glucose solution as the starting materials by a facile one-step hydrothermal route. The as-obtained core-shell materials were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman measurements. Some parameters, such as, the concentration of glucose and the reaction time, were briefly discussed to disclose the formation process of VO2(B)@C core-shell structured nanobelts. Glucose played a dual role in the hydrothermal process, namely as a reductant to reduce V2O5 to VO2(B), and as a carbon precursor for the organic carbon shell. The proper quantity of glucose (i.g.: 0.27 g) was beneficial for the fabrication of VO2(B)@C. Furthermore, the possible formation mechanism of VO2(B)@C core-shell structured nanobelts was proposed. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.