In this paper, we reported a simple solution method to assemble SnO2 nanorods hierarchically on the surface of alpha-Fe2O3 nanosheets using Fe3O4 nanosheets as precursor. The product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our experimental results show that the lattice mismatch at the interface of SnO2 nanorods with alpha-Fe2O3 nanosheets played an important role in determining the growth direction of SnO2 nanorods. The interface prefers to take the least lattice mismatch and thus the preferential growth direction of SnO2 nanorods was along [1 0 1] direction. The result may have important impact on the understanding of the nucleation growth process in a heterogeneous system. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.