Precursors of ammonium vanadium bronze (NH4V4O10) nanowires assembled on a conductive substrate were prepared by a hydrothermal method. After calcination at 360 degrees C, the NH4V4O10 precursor transformed to vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanowires, which presented a high initial capacity of 135.0 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 50 mA g(-1) in 5 M LiNO3 aqueous solution; while the specific capacity faded quickly over 50 cycles. By coating the surface of V2O5 nanowires with water-insoluble polypyrrole (PPy), the formed nanocomposite electrode exhibited a specific discharge capacity of 89.9 mA h g-1 at 50 mA g(-1) (after 100 cycles). A V2O5@PPy //LiMn2O4 rechargeable lithium battery exhibited an initial discharge capacity of 95.2 mA h g(-1); and after 100 cycles, a specific discharge capacity of 81.5 mA h g(-1) could retain at 100 mA g(-1). (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.