Boron nanowires with different morphologies and diameters have been fabricated by laser ablation. The effects of the synthesis temperatures, intensities of the laser beams, the types of the metal catalysts and the addition of H3BO3 on the growth of the boron nanowires are studied. The systematic analyses show that the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) model may play important roles in the growth of the boron nanowires. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.