A colloidal dispersion of titanate nanotubes (TiNT) and polyamic acid (PAA) in dimethylformamide (DMF) was electrospun and chemically converted to polyimide (PI)-titanate nanotube (PI-TiNT) composite nanofibers of 500-1000 nm diameter. The dispersion of nanotubes in the polymer was addressed by two different approaches, namely an in situ method (when TiNT was coated with one of the monomers) and an ex situ one (when TiNT reacted directly with PAA). SEM images showed bead formation on samples from the in situ approach, while ex situ samples showed the absence of such features. Good distribution and some alignment of TiNT within the polymer fibers from in situ or ex situ approaches were observed by TEM imaging. Addition of titanate nanotubes into the polyimide significantly decreased the viscosity of polyamic acid solution and increased the glass transition temperature of the composite. (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.