Self-assembly ferroelectric BaTiO3 nanowires were fabricated using sol-gel and microwave method. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that BaTiO3 nanowires belong to the tetragonal perovskite structure. An increase in the intensity of (1 1 0) peak was observed as the annealing time increased. The shape of BaTiO3 nanowires microwave-annealed for different minutes was investigated using atomic force microscopy. It is found that nanowires of BaTiO3 annealed for 2.5 min are very clear-cut, orderly and almost uninterrupted. The height of nanowire is near to the film thickness. However, nanowires of BaTiO3 annealed for 5 min are lesser, shorter and lower, and the distances among these nanowires are wider and well-proportioned. The origin of the distinct differences due to the remotion of atoms obtained enough energy was discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.