Al-doped ZnO (AZO) shell layers were coated on core ZnO nanowires to fabricate ZnO/AZO core-shell nanowires. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectra confirmed the presence of Al element in the shell layers, and the lattice resolved transmission electron microscopy image revealed that these layers corresponded to the hexagonal ZnO structure. The X-ray diffraction pattern exhibited a shift of the ZnO peaks, suggesting the substitutive incorporation of Al into the ZnO lattice. The A(1)(LO) mode line in the Raman spectra was enhanced by the AZO coating. In the photoluminescence measurements, the AZO coating enhanced the intensity ratio of the UV to green emission. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.