Abstract: The tetrapod zinc oxide whisker was prepared by direct oxidation of zinc vapor using zinc ingot as raw material. The effects of the evaporation temperature and oxidation temperature on the morphology of whisker were investigated. The results indicate that in zinc evaporation temperature range of 980-1 050 ℃, product was the tetrapod zinc oxide whisker which showed hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure. While the product at 950 ℃ had a granular or flake morphology, but not whisker. At the oxidation reaction temperature of 900 ℃, the tetrapod zinc oxide whisker with uniform morphology could be obtained. Reduced the temperature to 800 ℃, single whisker of the tetrapod zinc oxide grew longer. The tetrapod zinc oxide whisker growth was controlled by a vapor-solid process, and the growth of single whisker was governed by the screw dislocation mechanism.