Sodium titanate nanowires from brookite (or anatase) nanocrystallites were synthesized by a hydrothermal treating in 10 M NaOH aqueous solution at 180 degreesC. Their structures were characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, and Raman spectra. The results indicated that though the structures of sodium titanate nanowires derived from brookite and antase were similar, there existed differences between them. The decrease of (2 0 0) plane spacing resulted from the increase of Na amount intercalated into TiO2. The species of short Ti-O bonds in sodium fitanate from brookite was more than that in sodium titanate from anatase. UV-vis absorption spectra showed a strong absorption not only in the ultraviolet range but also in the visible-light range. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.