The deuterium retention properties of vanadium alloy, V-4Cr-4Ti, were investigated by thermal desorption spectroscopy after deuterium ion irradiation. The deuterium ion irradiation was carried out at 380, 573 and 773 K with ion energy of 1.7 keV. Deuterium retained in the sample was desorbed in the forms of D-2, HD, HDO and D2O. The amount of retained deuterium at 380 K increased with the ion fluence, and did not saturate to a fluence up to 1 x 10(19) D/cm(2). In addition, more than 100% of implanted D was retained at high deuterium fluence. The retained amount at 380 K was one and two orders of magnitude larger than graphite and tungsten, respectively. For the irradiation at 773 K, the amount of retained deuterium decreased with increase in ion fluence in the high fluence region, and the retained amount was almost the same as that for graphite or tungsten. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.