The twinned tabour-like ZnO microstructures have been successfully synthesized via a solvothermal method without the assistant of any additive and template. The as-prepared products are characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, and high-resolution transmission electron microscope. The ZnO microcrystals grow symmetrically, and are wurtzite structure. The tabour, with a diameter of about 8.5 mu m, grows along the c axis. The time-dependent morphology evolution of the ZnO microcrystal presents every single ZnO tabour is composed by many single crystal units. A possible formation mechanism of these complex hierarchical structures is investigated by adjusting the reaction time. In addition, the twinned ZnO tabours exhibit excellent ethanol-sensing properties at 250 degrees C. The highest response is 6.4-20 ppm ethanol. The response of the sensor rapidly increases with the increasing concentration of ethanol, until the ethanol reaching 200 ppm. The response of the sensor to 200 ppm ethanol is about 24.64 with the response time of 3 s. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.