Lead titanate (PbTiO3) nanorods were prepared by electroplating lead (Pb) into a self-organized titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube template followed by high temperature annealing. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observation and X-ray diffraction were performed to reveal the morphology of the nanorods and confirm the formation of the PbTiO3 and PbO phases, respectively. It is found that the nanorods have a PbO core and a PbTiO3 shell. Mechanoelectric response of the nanorods was investigated by bending tests. Comparative studies on the mechanoelectric behaviors of pure TiO2 nanotubes and the PbTiO3 nanorods were made. It is shown that the PbTiO3 nanorods have more stable mechanoelectric response than the TiO2 nanotubes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.