A simple solvothermal route was successfully utilized to fabricate S-doped ZnO nanonails with a hexagonal cap followed by a comparatively thin long needle shaped stem portion. Diameters of the hexagonal caps varied within 10-25 nm and lengths of the stem portions varied within 50-80 nm. These nanonails were found to exhibit intense green light emission property at room temperature. Similar synthesis protocol was employed to fabricate ZnS/ZnO core/shell nanorods by suitably tailoring the concentration of the sulfur source in the synthesis environment. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.