Copper oxide nanowires and cuprous oxide crystals had been synthesized through gamma-irradiating aqueous CuCl2-NaOH-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-isopropyl alcohol solutions under ambient conditions. The product composition could be changed by modulating the amount of base, NaOH. The morphology of the products could be accurately controlled by altering the amounts of SDS and isopropyl alcohol. A possible formation mechanism was also proposed.