Tetrapod ZnO nanostructures with three different morphologies (rod-wire junction, dumbbell-like and cone-like) and high aspect ratios were synthesized by a vapor oxidation method. It was found that these tetrapod ZnO nanostructures had a single crystal hexagonal wurtzite structure with lattice constants of a = 0.325 nm and c = 0.521 nm. Photoluminescence characterization of such ZnO nanostructures shows that they exhibit a strong UV emission (about 380 nm) and three broad green emission peaks, showing good potential for photoluminescent application. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.