An optically transparent Ag nanorods/AAM composite film was prepared by AC electrodeposition of Ag within the nanoporous anodic alumina membrane (AAM). Because the incident light excited different surface plasmon resonance modes along different directions, the composite film displayed an optical anisotropy for the rod-shape of Ag particles. Its three-order nonlinear optical properties were measured by z-scan technique, and the values of \Rex((3))\ and \Imx((3))\ were about 2.6028 x 10(-6) and 5.7614 x 10(-7) eus, respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.