Self-assembly nickel nanowires were prepared by soft template method in ethylene glycol solutions. The structure and micro-morphology of the products were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The results showed that the products were pure nickel powders with face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. A growth model was presented to explain the growth mechanism. The effects of pH value, surfactant, reaction temperature and reaction time on the synthesis of nickel nanowires were discussed. When pH > 11.5, the reaction temperature was between 80 degrees C and 90 degrees C, and the concentration of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was higher than 7.0 x 10(-3), zigzag nickel nanowires with slenderness ratio about 20 could be synthesized. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.