The paper describes a simple, effective method for producing alpha-Fe2O3 nanofibers by electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol)/ferrous acetate composite nanofibers precursors and high-temperature calcination in air. The experimental results show that the morphology and crystalline phase of alpha-Fe(2)O3 nanofibres are influenced by the content of ferrous acetate in composite nanofibres and the calcination temperature. The alpha-Fe2O3, nanofibres can generate superhydrophilic surface displaying the contact angle of water as 0 degrees. By controlling the calcination temperature of electrospun composite nanofibers in the air, the magnetic property of alpha-Fe2O3 nanofibres could be tuned from superparamagnetic to ferromagnetic. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.