Hexagonal single-crystal A1N nanowires with straight or zigzag morphologies were successfully synthesized by the reaction of aluminum alloy in an ammonia/nitrogen atmosphere at 1100 degreesC. It is found that the crystal tropism of the nanowires is along [0001], whereas the growth directions of the zigzag nanowires shift between [<2<(1)over bar>(1) over bar1] and [(2) over bar 111].