Corn-like ZnO nanorods have been prepared by a solvothermal-assisted heat treatment method. The products were investigated by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, TG-DTA, FT-IR and PL. It was found that the corn-like ZnO nanorods consisted of polycrystal nanoparticles with hexagonal wurtzite structure. The diameter and length of the nanorods are about 90-150 nm and 0.6-3 mu m, respectively. The near-band ultraviolet emission spectrum of the corn-like ZnO nanorods has one peak at 400 nm under 250 nm excitation at room temperature. A possible mechanism for the formation of the corn-like ZnO nanorods is also discussed briefly. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.