Magnesium hydroxide (MH) nanoparticles with lamellar, rod-like morphologies were synthesized individually through solution coprecipitation with copper(II) and magnesium(II) ions in the presence of surfactant magnesium stearate. The influences of synthesis parameters on the morphological characteristics and thermal stabilities of MH nanoparticles coprecipitated in an aqueous medium were investigated, such as copper(II) and its content, initial concentration of base and magnesium salt, reaction time and temperature. Special attention was given to obtain rod-like particles. The obtained MH nanoparticles were characterized in terms of morphology, particle size and crystal habit by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal stability by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.