Na2V6O16 center dot nH(2)O nanowires were synthesized using an environmentally friendly and one-step low-temperature hydrothermal route. The synthesis involved the hydrothermal reaction between V2O5, H2O2 and NaOH, without the addition of any organic surfactants or inorganic ions. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques were used to characterize the structure, morphology, chemical composition and thermal stability of the nanostructured samples. High purity hydrated Na2V6O16 center dot nH(2)O nanowires of diameters around 20-30 nm can be more efficiently obtained when subject to hydrothermal treatment at 140 degrees C for 24 h. The variation in the electronic and local atomic structure was analyzed using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Based on the results obtained from the present study, a mechanism for the formation of Na2V6O16 center dot nH(2)O nanowires in hydrothermal conditions was proposed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.