Fe3BO6 can be an ideal compound for devising functional magnetic and dielectric properties in a single material for multiple applications such as electrodes, gas sensors, or medical tools. Useful to tailor such properties, here we report on a self-controlled Fe3BO6 growth in a specific shape of nanorods from a supercooled liquid precursor (an inorganic polymeric liquid or glass) of an initial composition (100-x)B2O3-xFe(2)O(3), X = 40-50 mol%. B2O3 as a strong glass former co-bridges the Fe3+ ions in oxygen polygons primarily in a 2-D interconnected polymer network so that it dictates preferably a 1-D directional growth on the reaction Fe3+ species in form of a compound Fe3BO6, a favorable phase to nucleate and grow when annealing a precursor at 500-800 degrees C in ambient air. Distinct nanorods with a diameter similar to 200 nm and 40-100 mu m length have been formed on 10-15 min annealing a sample in microwave at moderate temperature 550 degrees C. BO3 -> BO4 conversion has incurred in the boroxol (B3O4.5)(n), n -> infinity, rings in the surface layer, showing three distinct IR bands at 1035, 1215 and 1425 cm(-1). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.