ZnO crystals were grown through a solution-based chemical route at ambient pressure and low temperature. It was found that the solution pH is a dominative factor in determining the morphology of crystals: Rod-like ZnO crystals are apt to be formed at near neutral condition, whereas flower-like structured ZnO crystals are preferred to be formed at higher solution pH. By monitoring the reaction intermediates during the ZnO growth process, it was realized that the crucial role of solution pH in determining the morphology of ZnO crystals is to control the structure of the primary reaction intermediates at the early stage of ZnO growth. Moreover, by appreciate controlling the solution pH together with Zn2+ concentration, various ZnO crystals of rod-like, dumbbell-like and even more complex flower-like structures were obtained without any template, and a pH-dependent morphology controllable growth mechanism is suggested. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.