This paper describes a new approach to the synthesis of Ag nanorods. A solvothermal method was used to make Ag nanoparticles inside anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The nanoparticles were then annealed at 300 degrees C to produce Ag nanorods. The size of AAO templates, which is focused on in this study, would determine the diameter of Ag nanorods. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this study, a nanorod growth mechanism is deduced, and understanding of the growth of nanorods inside AAO templates is furthered. This work demonstrates that it is possible to make crystalline nanorods that the size can be varied. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.