Hetero-junction beaded nanowires were synthesized via a simple thermal vapor deposition method. These nanowires were characterized with XRD, Raman, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, SAED and PL spectroscopy. Many single-crystal In2O3 beads epitaxially grown along the axis of the single-crystal core SnO2 nanowires form the beaded nanowires. The In2O3 beads have definite orientations along the [200] direction of the core SnO2 nanowires and show regular rhombohedral morphology. A possible growth mechanism for the beaded nanowires is proposed. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.