Ti(Sn)-doped single-crystalline ZnO nanorods with an average diameter of 20 nm and length up to nearly I mu m were synthesized by a facile ultrasonic irradiation-assisted alcoholthermal method without involving any templates. Photoluminescence spectra of the Ti-doped ZnO nanorods were measured at room temperature and three emitting hands, being a violet emission at 400-415 rim, a blue band at 450470 nm and a green band at around 550 nm, were detected. The emission intensities of the Ti-doped ZnO nanorods enhance gradually with increasing the doping concentrations. As to the Sn-doped ZnO nanorods, the green emission shifts to 540 nm and the emission intensities increase first but decrease later with increasing the doping concentrations. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.