The silver nanorods and nanowires have been synthesized by a facile aqueous solution process using tri-sodium citrate as reducing agent in the presence of anionic surfactant dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid sodium (DBS). The products were characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Experimental results indicated that the concentrations of the reactants AgNO3 and tri-sodium citrate, in addition to the surfactant DBS should be interdependent in the formation of the silver nanorods and nanowires. The optical properties were investigated and the prepared nanostructures displayed a very strong absorption band at the room temperature. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.