Titania (TiO(2)) fibers supporting chromia (Cr(2)O(3)) were prepared by forming TiO(2) fibers via electrospinning, then immersing the as-prepared fibers in a chromium nitrate solution followed by annealing. The annealing process allowed for the formation of chromium oxide on the surface of the TiO(2) fibers and for the development of porosity. The mean diameter of the prepared fiber samples ranged from 350 to 445 nm. Controlling the annealing temperature from 500 to 700 degrees C resulted in fiber morphologies ranging from partly to fully porous. Additionally, X-ray diffraction peak intensities corresponding to both TiO(2) and Cr(2)O(3), increased at higher annealing temperatures. Meanwhile, the Cr(2)O(3) content of the TiO(2) fibers was dependent on the concentration of the chromium nitrate solution. Elemental mapping was performed using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to investigate the chemical composition inside the porous fibers. Chromium was relatively well distributed in the TiO(2) fibers. The porous fibers produced using the method described in this paper have potential use in catalysts and gas sensors. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.