Access to the full text of the published version may require a subscription. The relationship between the nanoscale structure of vanadium pentoxide nanotubes and their ability to accommodate Li + during intercalation/deintercalation is explored. The nanotubes are synthesized using two different precursors through a surfactant-assisted templating method, resulting in standalone VO x (vanadium oxide) nanotubes and also nanourchin. Under highly reducing conditions, where the interlaminar uptake of primary alkylamines is maximized, standalone nanotubes exhibit near-perfect scrolled layers and longrange structural order even at the molecular level. Under less reducing conditions, the degree of amine uptake is reduced due to a lower density of V 4+ sites and less V 2 O 5 is functionalized with adsorbed alkylammonium cations. This is typical of the nano-urchin structure. Highresolution TEM studies revealed the unique observation of nanometer-scale nanocrystals of pristine unreacted V 2 O 5 throughout the length of the nanotubes in the nano-urchin.
RightsElectrochemical intercalation studies revealed that the very well ordered xerogel-based nanotubes exhibit similar specific capacities (235 mAh g -1 ) to Na + -exchange nanorolls of VO x (200 mAh g -1 ). By comparison, the theoretical maximum value is reported to be 240 mAh g -1 .The VOTPP-based nanotubes of the nano-urchin 3-D assemblies, however, exhibit useful Submitted to 3 charge capacities exceeding 437 mAh g -1 , which is a considerable advance for VO x based nanomaterials and one of the highest known capacities for Li + intercalated laminar vanadates.