A　solvothermal　route　has　been　developed　to　synthesize　K2V3O8　nanorods　via　the　reduction　of　V2O5　using　ethanol　as　the　reducing　agent　as　well　as　the　solvent　at　200degreesC.　X-ray　diffraction　and　selected　area　electron　diffraction　analysis　revealed　that　the　as-synthesized　products　are　of　tetragonal　structure　K2V3O8.　Transmission　electron　spectroscopy　image　showed　that　the　obtained　K2V3O8　comprises　rod-like　nanocrystallites.　The　formation　mechanism　of　K2V3O8　was　studied.　(C)　2003　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.