High-yield Eu2O3 short nanorods have been prepared by a facile sol-gel method with polystyrene/polyelectrolyte (PS/PE) microreactor as template in an aqueous solution of europium nitrate in the presence of ammonia and urea. The properties of Eu2O3 nanorods were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The particle sizes measured from TEM and FESEM are about 200 nm x 500 nm (W x L). A possible mechanism for the formation of such high-yield oxide nanorods is discussed. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.