Chestnut bur-like particles whose surface was covered with ZnO nanowires were produced by the thermal oxidation of metallic Zn particles. The Zn particles were prepared on a sapphire substrate by thermal evaporation of metallic Zn. The oxidation was performed at 900 degrees C for 30 min under ambient atmosphere. The average diameter and length of the ZnO nanowires were about 50 mu and 3.3 mu m, respectively. The composition of the ZnO nanowire was measured by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The AES result revealed that the ZnO nanowires have stoichiometric composition. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.