New organic-inorganic hybrid nanofibers, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-titanium lactate (TL) hybrid nanofibers, were formed by electrospinning employing water as a solvent. Anatase-type TiO2 nanofibers were obtained by calcination of the hybrid nanofibers; in air. The fiber diameters of the PVA-TL hybrid nanofibers was 200-350 nm, and the fiber diameter of the TiO2 nanofibers was 70-80% of that of the PVA-TL hybrid nanofibers. The specific surface area and average pore diameter of the TiO2 nanofiber calcined at 500 degrees C for 5 h were 21.0 m(2)/g and 7.4 nm, respectively. The photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue using the TiO2 nanofibers was also investigated. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.