In this study, Ti-doped W18O49 nanorods were prepared without any templates or catalysts using a modified plasma-arc gas-condensation technique. Structure investigations were conducted and the optical properties of the as-prepared nanorods were characterized by field emission gun scanning electron microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, x-ray diffractometer, x-ray photoelectron spectroscope, micro-Raman, and ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectrometers. The experimental results showed that the diameter and the length of the as-prepared nanorods were approximately 20 nm and 3 mu m, respectively. The as-prepared nanorods exhibited W18O49 structures and characteristic Raman peaks could be observed. UV-visible absorption investigations revealed that Ti-doped W18O49 nanorods exhibited a redshift phenomenon when compared with the pure TiO2 and WO3. (C) 2009 American Vacuum Society. [DOI:10.1116/1.3208007]