A CO2 laser (lambda = 10.6 mu m) was used to heat a solution of water and alcohol saturated by Zn(AcAc)(2) on a fused quartz substrate in open air. After only a few seconds of irradiation, various zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures including nanorods and nanowires are formed near the center of the irradiated zone, surrounded by a porous thin film of ZnO nanoparticles. The type of structures produced and their localization on the substrate can be varied by selecting adequate irradiation time and laser power ranges. The deposits have-been analyzed using SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy, revealing that the nanorods (aspect ratio similar to 6) and nanowires (aspect ratio similar to 94) are single-crystalline structures which grow along the c axis of wurtzite ZnO. The nanoparticles are also single-crystalline and have an average diameter of 16 nm. A qualitative model for nanostructure growth is proposed, based on previous studies of aqueous solution and hydrothermal processing.