The induction time of supersaturated sodium zincate solution at 308.15-343.15 K was systematically investigated. The interfacial free energies of Zn(OH)(2) and ZnO were calculated respectively. When the initial concentration of sodium zincate solution was high, the temperature had an obvious effect on the interfacial free energy of ZnO crystals. Based on the regression of induction period data, the growth mechanism of Zn(OH)(2) crystals was determined to be the two-dimensional nucleation-mediated growth mechanism at 308.15 K and that of ZnO crystals was determined to be normal growth and volume diffusion-controlled growth mechanisms at 323.15 K. The structure of sodium zincate solution was researched by the initial phase of sodium zincate solution and the thermodynamic data of reactions at different temperatures. Zn element exists as Zn(OH)(x)(2-)(x) (x >= 3) above 323.15 K and mainly exists as Zn(OH)(+) with a little as Zn(OH)(x)(2)(-x)(x >= 3) at 308.15 K.