Metallic lead nanowires were deposited within pores of commercial anodic alumina membranes having an average pore diameter of 210 nm. "Direct" electrodeposition was attempted from 0.1 M Pb(NO3)(2) aqueous solution with a variable concentration of H3BO3 as a chelating agent, but it gave unsatisfactory results. An "indirect" two-step deposition procedure was then adopted, consisting of the anodic electrodeposition of alpha-PbO2 nanowires, followed by their in situ reduction to metallic lead. Both these processes occurred at a high rate so that the indirect method led to a complete template pore filling with pure polycrystalline Pb in short times and with a high current efficiency. (C) 2009 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3246944] All rights reserved.