One-dimensional ceramic nanostructures have been generated, employing various types of ceramic particle in a modified arc-discharge process. The influence of the filling materials on the arc discharge has been directly monitored by on-line spectroscopy. The carbon nanotube and nanoparticle yields are strongly affected by the fillings. Amorphous SiO2 and well-crystallised beta-SiC nanofibres have been produced. In particular, the thin and short beta-SiC nanofibres exhibit significant atom plane construction, in which the close-packed lattices are parallel to the fibre axis. beta 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.