One-dimensional semiconductor materials Bi2Te3 nanocrystals, with a novel nanostructure we call 'sheet-rod,' can grow via a controlling oriented attachment. These rods are assembled through oriented attachment of the Bi2Te3 sheets in the assistance of EDTA additive, and the sheet-rods are homogeneous single crystals. The formation mechanism could be an ionic reaction involving a nucleation-aggregation-coarsening process. It is proved that this synthetic approach could be promising to self-assembled prepare one-dimensional nanocrystals of metals and semiconductors. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.