Template-directed synthesis is a promising route to realize vanadate-based 1-D nanostructures, an example of which is the formation of vanadium pentoxide nanotubes and associated nanostructures. In this work, we report the interchange of long-chained alkyl amines with alkyl thiols. This reaction was followed using gold nanoparticles prepared by the Chemical Liquid Deposition (CLD) method with an average diameter of similar to 0.9 nm and a stability of similar to 85 days. V2O5 nanotubes (VOx-NTs) with lengths of similar to 2 mu m and internal hollow diameters of 20-100 nm were synthesized and functionalized in a Au-acetone colloid with a nominal concentration of similar to 4 x 10(-3) mol dm(-3). The interchange reaction with dodecylamine is found only to occur in polar solvents and incorporation of the gold nanoparticles is not observed in the presence of n-decane. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.