The transformation of Te nanotubes to CdTe2 nanotubes have been achieved through a solvothermal process in a mixed solvent of ethylene glycol (EG) and oleic acid (OA) at 200 degrees C for 24 h. Single crystalline Te nanotubes generated in situ could serve as the Te source and template, and then transformed as self-assembly CoTe2 nanotubes. In the unique reaction system, CoTe2 nanotubes were obtained when the volume ratio of EG and OA (V-EG/V-OA) was 5/3. The facile approach was extended to prepare other 1D telluride nanostructures, including CdTe, PbTe, Sb2Te3 and Bi2Te3. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.