CuO nanorod bundles and interconnected nanosheets are prepared via a three-step synthesis method starting from the Cu-2(OH)(3)Cl precursor. Cu(OH)(2) nanorod bundles are obtained by the reaction of the Cu-2(OH)(3)Cl precursor with NaOH in aqueous solution at room temperature. CuO interconnected nanosheets are obtained by hydrothermal treatment of Cu(OH)(2) nanorod bundles, and CuO nanorod bundles consisting of nano particles with certain orientation are obtained by the solid-state thermal transformation of Cu(OH)(2) nanorod bundles. The influences of the temperature and NaOH concentration on the synthesis of CuO nanostructures are investigated. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.