In this paper we report on the synthetic investigation of single-crystalline aluminum borate (Al4B2O9) nanowires in large scale by a direct calcination of a precursor powder made of Na2B4O7 center dot 10H(2)O and Al (NO3)(3)center dot 9H(2)O at a low temperature of 850 degrees C. The nanowires, with the diameter of 20-40 nm and the length up to several micrometers, possess smooth surfaces and uniform sizes along the entire wire. The growth mechanism of the nanowires is attributed to a solid-liquid-solid process, which controls the nanowire morphology. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.