A facile route of large-scale synthesis of ZnTe nanorod bundles has been achieved by a solvothermal method in a mixed solvent of ethylenediamine and hydrazine hydrate and later thermal treatment combined. SEM images showed many nanorods stick together in the middle, composing a typical nanorod bundle. These nanorods have widths in the range 150-200 nm and lengths up to several micrometres. HRTEM and SAED demonstrated that the nanorods grow along [111] direction. Based on a series of contrast experiments under different reaction conditions, some probable effective factors were discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.