Novel chainlike nanocrystals of Bi2Te3 and Ag were synthesized via a solvothermal process in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt or poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) at 180 degreesC. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Bi2Te3 nanocrystals were sheet-rods with the ordered array of Bi2Te3 nanosheets, and the Ag chains consist of Ag nanoparticles. Organic ligands play a manifold role in the formation of the chainlike nanostructures as both coordinate ligand and architecture template, and a possible formation mechanism is proposed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.