Single-crystal rutile SnO2 nanowires with diameters of 15-40 nm and lengths of up to tens of micrometers were successfully synthesized by oxidizing SnO nanoparticles in NaCl flux. The as-prepared nanowires were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, laser Raman spectroscopy, and XPS. The experimental results indicated that the molten NaCl and surfactant NP-9 played important roles for the formation of SnO2 nanowires. A possible growth mechanism of the nanowires was described by the studies of comparative experiments. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.