In　this　study,　single　crystal　V3O7　center　dot　H2O　nanobelts　were　successfully　synthesized　using　a　simple　hydrothermal　route.　in　which　templates　or　catalysts　were　absent.　The　synthesized　V3O7　center　dot　H2O　nanobelts　are　highly　crystalline　and　have　lengths　up　to　several　tens　of　micrometers.　The　width　and　thickness　of　the　nanobelts　are　found　to　be　about　30-50　and　30　nm,　respectively.　A　lithium　battery　using　V3O7　center　dot　H2O　nanobelts　as　the　positive　electrode　exhibits　a　high　initial　discharge　capacity　of　409　mAh　g(-1),　corresponding　to　the　formation　of　LixV3O7　center　dot　H2O　(x　=　4.32).　Such　a　high　degree　of　electrochemical　performance　is　attributed　to　the　intrinsic　properties　of　the　single-crystalline　V3O7　center　dot　H2O　nanobelts.　(C)　2008　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.