Reactions of sulphur mustard and sarin were studied on the surface of V1.02O2.98 nanotubes by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. The V1.02O2.98 nanotube samples were made by using hydrothermal method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffractometry and thermogravimetry. Later, they were exposed to sulphur mustard and sarin separately at ambient temperature (30 +/- 2 degrees C). The data explored the formation of sulphoxide of sulphur mustard, thiodiglycol for sulphur mustard and isopropyl methyl phosphonic acid for sarin on V1.02O2.98 nanotubes illustrating the role of oxidation and hydrolysis reactions in the decontamination. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.