Yttrium oxide fibers have been synthesized via hydrothermal reaction and subsequent thermal treatment using yttrium chloride as precursor. The products before and after the thermal treatment were characterized by powder X-ray diffractions (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ion-chromatograph analysis, and thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The fiber diameter ranged from 100 to 300 nm, while the length was up to tens of microns. It was found that the chemical composition and morphology of the products were closely related to the pH value of reaction solution, and fibrous products could be obtained at pH 9.5-10.25. These oxide fibers exhibited outstanding high-temperature stability, which maintained their morphology at temperature up to 1400 degrees C. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.