Single-crystal barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanorods were synthesized by it hydrothermal reaction using precursors of potassium titanate (K2O center dot nTiO(2), n = 4 or 6) nanostructures. The precursors of potassium tetratitanate (K(2)Ti(4)O9) and potassium hexatitanate (K2Ti6O13) nanostructures were prepared by a sol-gel method in which a growth of K2O center dot nTiO(2) (n = 4 or 6) nanorods was induced by a role of pre-crystallized K2O phase at defined heating temperatures. The specific morphologies of BaTiO3 nanorods featured with flat or stepped surfaces and rectangular or polygonal cross-section, were obtainable by selecting the structure of precursors. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.