One-dimensional (1D) single crystal ZnO nanorods directly grown on ZnO nanostructured substrates by soft chemical method is proposed. Employing a novel two steps procedure, the ZnO nanorods with a diameter about 45 nm can be successfully grown on substrate in aqueous solution at attractive low temperature in 90 degreesC, permitting large-scale fabrication with a relatively low cost and a potential application in optoelectronic nanodevices. The structures, appearances and optical properties of ZnO nanorods also have been characterized. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.