Tin　dioxide　(SnO2)　is　a　unique　functional　material　with　significant　technological　applications.　A　good　understanding　of　the　microstructure　and　electronic　properties　of　this　material　is　of　fundamental　importance　in　the　development　of　nanodevices.　In　this　paper,　SnO2　nanorods　were　prepared　in　bulk　quantity　by　a　widely　applicable　route　based　on　reaction　processes.　Microstructural　investigations　by　X-ray　diffraction　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　indicated　that　these　nanorods　have　the　tetragonal　rutile　form　of　SnO2,　and　are　structurally　perfect　and　uniform,　with　widths　of　10-25　nm,　and　lengths　of　several　hundred　nanometers　to　a　few　micrometers.　Electrical　measurements　by　connecting　a　single　SnO2　nanorod　in　field-effect　transistor　configuration　showed　that　these　nanorods　exhibit　good　electrical　properties.　The　findings　indicate　that　other　one-dimensional　nanostructural　materials　may　be　manipulated　by　using　this　simple　technique.　This　work　might　provide　insight　into　new　opportunities　for　applications　as　building　blocks　for　nanoelectronics　and　active　sensing　materials.　(C)　2009　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.