Zinc-blencle-structured ZnTe nanostructures, periodically twinned nanowires and uniform nanoribbons, have been synthesized by the hydrogen-assisted thermal evaporation method in the presence of Au catalyst via the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth mechanism. The formation of various nanostructures is dependent on the local temperature. Periodically twinned nanowires and uniform nanoribbons dominate at low- and high-temperature zone, respectively. Moreover, the transition from the twinned nanowire to the uniform nanoribbon takes place at the middle-temperature zone. Optical properties have been investigated by Raman spectrum and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.