Cuprous oxide nanorods had been synthesized via solvothermal treatment of CuSO4 center dot 5H(2)O and NaOH in the mixed solution of ethanol and deionized water at 140 degrees C for 6-10 h, in which ethanol was used as a reducing agent, as well as a solvent. The as-prepared Cu2O nanorods were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results indicated that the nanorods were well crystallized and uniform in size. Cu2O nanorods with different aspect ratios were obtained by adjusting the ratio of ethanol and deionized water of the mixed solution. It was proposed that the reducibility of ethanol was influenced by the temperature and the amount of deionized water and it was improved at a higher temperature and less addition of deionized water. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.