The equilibrium gas controlling method was applied to prepare tetra-needle-like zinc oxide whiskers (T-ZnO) using metallic zinc as the main raw material. The kinetic processes of the generation of T-ZnO were divided into two first-order procedures, the formation of a central part and the growth of needle-like crystals of the whisker. The control of the two processes was realized by the adjusting oxidation rate. The reaction ratios of nuclei formation and needle crystal growth were calculated as 0.3 and 1.08 min(-1), respectively, from which the weight proportion of needles to nuclei was deduced as 1:20. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.