TiO2　fibers　were　fabricated　through　heat　treatment　of　titanium　alkoxide　dissolved　in　a　solvent　(ethanol　and　toluene)　under　autogenous　pressure,　using　activated　carbon　fibers　as　templates.　For　comparison,　a　supercritical　CO2　process　was　also　employed.　The　difference　in　the　solvent＇s　affinity　for　water　led　to　a　large　difference　in　the　morphology　of　TiO2　fibers　produced.　Moreover,　the　fibers　synthesized　using　toluene　in　our　relatively　mild　conditions　exhibited　a　similar　pore　size　distribution　and　surface　area　to　those　made　using　supercritical　CO2.　(c)　2006　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.