Wire-like zinc oxide (ZnO) were successfully synthesized through a simple route by the thermal evaporation of zinc powders at 800degreesC in argon atmosphere. These wires have diameters ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 mum, lengths up to tens of micro, and the aspect ratio of 100-500. A strong green light emission (520 nm) and a relatively weak UV light emission (370 nm) are observed in the room-temperature photoluminescence. The wire-like ZnO are governed by the vapor-solid mechanism. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.