gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, nanorods and multi-pod nanostructure were prepared via a surfactant-assisted process using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as oriented template. The most influential factors on gamma-Fe2O3 shape control including the ratio of surfactant injection quantity in microemulsion and reaction time were both studied. The hysteresis loop was operated to show that magnetic properties of gamma-Fe2O3 were strongly influenced by the morphology of the crystal. The routine entails the executable synthesis of the desired nanostructures with novel physical properties for applications in nanotechniques based on the matching adsorption of organic molecules on the special facet of anisotropic crystalline nuclei. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.