A facile and template-free one-pot strategy is applied to synthesize nanostructured vanadium oxide particles via a hydrothermal methodology. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been used to characterize the structure and morphology of the samples. The products are gradually changed from sheet-shaped VO2(B) to rod-like V3O7 center dot H2O with decreasing cyclohexanediol as both protective and reducing agent. The specific surface area of the VO2(B) nanosheets and V3O7 center dot H2O nanorods was found to be 22 and 16 m(2) g(-1), respectively. Thin films of VO2(B) and V3O7 center dot H2O deposited on ITO substrates were electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The voltammograms show reversible redox behavior with doping/dedoping process corresponding to reversible cation intercalation/de-intercalation into the crystal lattice of the nanorods/nanosheets. This process is easier for the small Li+ cation than larger ones Na+. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.