Highly quality tetrapodlike ZnO (T-ZnO) nanocrystals have been synthesized by a modified vapor transport process, in which high-yield zinc vapor was produced by the carbothermal reduction of zinc carbonate. The Si substrates were coated with ZnO and NiO nanocrystals as the catalysts. The results show that the products are T-ZnO nanocrystals that consist of four cylindrical nanorods (arms) with a diameter of about 60 and 100 nm for the ZnO and NiO nanocrystals, respectively. There is a tetrahedral core found in the center of a T-ZnO nanocrystal. The influences of the catalysts on the microstructures of the T-ZnO nanocrystals are investigated. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.