Self-catalyst growth of novel SnO2 fishbone-like nanoribbons has been achieved, for the first time, via a thermal oxidation of elemental Sn powder using Fe-3(NO3)(3) as oxidizing agent at 1100 degreesC. X-ray powder diffraction and Raman scattering reveals that as-grown product has the phase structure of the rutile form of SnO2. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the synthesized product displays interesting fishbone-like ribbon morphology, in which numerous secondary and sub-secondary branches are grown at right angles on the main stems. Transmission electron microscopy indicates that the main stem of the ribbons grows along the [1 1 0] crystal direction, while the branches grow along [-1 1 0] (or [-1 1 0]) crystal direction. A room temperature photoluminescence spectrum of the present SnO2 ribbons shows a strong green emission at similar to500 nm. Possible growth mechanism of these ribbons was briefly discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.