Tip-growth and base-growth modes of Au-catalyzed zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) were synthesized on Au-film pre-deposited silicon substrates using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique. The diameter of tip-growth Au-catalyzed ZnO NWs was proportional to the Au film thickness, whereas the areal density of these NWs was inversely proportional to the Au film thickness. It would be more appropriate to explain the growth of Au-catalyzed ZnO NWs by a combination of Vapor-Liquid-Solid and Vapor-Solid (VLS-VS) mechanisms instead of the conventional VLS mechanism, regardless of tip-growth or base-growth mode of Au-catalyzed ZnO NWs. The competition between the VLS and VS mechanism in the effectiveness of capturing the adsorbed Zn and 0 atoms would determine the final morphology of ZnO NWs. In addition, Au catalyst promoted the growth rate of NWs as compared to the self-catalyzed ZnO NWs. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.