This paper dealt with the preparing conditions and morphology of tetrapod-l
ike zinc oxide (T-ZnO) whiskers with an angle of 109 degrees between any tw
o legs, which were prepared by vapor-phase oxidation of zinc metal in the a
ir and by introducing white carbon black as a reaction catalyst. The produc
t was pure zinc oxide verified by EDS and XRD patterns of T-ZnO whisker, in
which the peaks are sharp with narrow half-widths and can be identified as
a wurtzite ZnO structure. Morphology of T-ZnO whiskers was affected greatl
y by white carbon black as mold catalyst and supersaturations ratio(the fra
ctional pressures of zinc vapor vs pressed air).