Single-crystal SnO2 nanorods with tunable diameters and lengths, similar to42 x 197, similar to5.5 x 19.3 and similar to4.5 x 39.1 nm, have been synthesized through a simple hydrothermal process, using a mixture of water/ethanol (1:1 in volume), a mixture of water/ethanol (1:1 in volume) with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, and pure ethanol as reaction media, respectively. X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy and other techniques were used to characterize the nanorods. The as-synthesized SnO2 nanorods exhibit preferential growth along the [001] direction. The related mechanisms of the oriented growth and dimensional tunableness are discussed. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.