Single crystalline beta-PbO nanorods with diameter range from 40 to 120 nm and length up to 500 nm have been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method in the presence of citrate. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electro-microscope (HRTEM) and SAED were used to characterize the as-obtained samples. An interesting intermediate state of self-assembled beta-PbO rod-like nanoparticles was found and the possible formation mechanism of single crystalline beta-PbO nanorods was also discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.