In　the　present　work,　SnO2　nanostructural　hollow　spheres　have　been　successfully　synthesized　in　the　absence　of　template　by　a　simple　synthetic　route,　and　their　surfaces　were　covered　by　nanorods.　The　synthesized　nanostructural　hollow　spheres　covered　by　nanorods　were　further　characterized　by　XRD,　SEM　and　TEM　measurements.　The　diameter　of　SnO2　hollow　spheres　and　the　thickness　of　shells　are　found　to　be　ca.　150-200　and　20-30　nm,　respectively.　The　size　of　the　nanorod　is　found　to　be　ca.　5　nm,　and　the　length　up　to　tens　of　nanometers.　Based　on　a　series　of　experimental　results,　an　oxidizing-aggregating-Ostwald　ripening　model　has　been　proposed　for　the　formation　of　SnO2　nanostructural　hollow　spheres.　©　2011　Elsevier　B.V.