A synthesis of wustite (FeO) nanowires has been performed based on the method of carbon plasma pulse assisted chemical reduction of magnetite (Fe3O4)- Scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations, X-ray and electron diffractometry measurements have been used to characterize these wustite nanowires which exhibit dimensions of 10-50 mu m in length and 10-100 nm in diameter and present a high crystalline perfection at the nanoscale with {111} growth directions. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.