Several nano-sized bismuth materials with different shapes were fabricated using ionic/nonionic surfactant as a synthesis agent. Ionic surfactants brought about the formation of irregular nanoparticles while nonionic surfactants directed the synthesis of uniform hexagonal nanoprisms. Among them, the nonionic surfactant Pluronic P123 (poly(ethyleneoxide)-poly(propyleneoxide)-poly(ethyleneoxide), PEO20PPO70PEO20) could act as the reductant/shape-directing bifunctional agent for successfully reducing Bi3+ to Bi-0 and inducing many hexagonal nanoprisms to grow from one crystal seed and finally form the graceful bismuth nanoflowers. The molding mechanism of bismuth nanoflowers might be attributed to the accommodation, stabilization and induction effects of P123 micelles for bismuth crystal seeds. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.