One-dimensional　(1D)　semiconductor　ZnO　nanorods　have　been　successfully　prepared　via　a　facile　surfactant-free　hydrothermal　method.　Their　structure　and　properties　have　been　characterized　by　a　series　of　techniques,　including　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectra　(DRS),　field-emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FESEM),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　nitrogen　adsorption-desorption,　photoluminescence　spectra　(PL)　and　electron　spin　resonance　spectra　(ESR).　It　is　found　that　ZnO　nanorods　with　diameters　around　20-30　nm　and　lengths　up　to　several　micrometers　are　well-distributed.　ZnO　nanorods　have　been　used　to　photocatalyze　the　aerobic　oxidation　of　alcohols　to　aldehydes　under　ambient　conditions.　The　results　show　that　ZnO　nanorods　exhibit　a　markedly　enhanced　photoactivity　and　selectivity　compared　to　their　precursor,　commercial　ZnO,　which　can　be　ascribed　to　the　special　1D　morphology　of　ZnO　nanorods　leading　to　its　favorable,　selective　adsorptivity　toward　the　reactant　of　alcohols　instead　of　the　product　of　aldehydes,　and　the　efficient　separation　of　photogenerated　charge　carriers.　A　possible　reaction　mechanism　for　the　photocatalytic　selective　oxidation　of　alcohols　over　ZnO　nanorods　has　also　been　proposed.　Our　present　work　not　only　provides　a　facile,　high-yield　and　surfactant-free　approach　for　the　fabrication　of　ZnO　nanorods,　but　also　enriches　the　chemistry　of　morphology-dependent　functional　properties　of　ZnO　materials　in　the　application　of　heterogeneous　photocatalytic　selective　oxidation,　which　therefore　could　open　a　new　doorway　to　utilize　1D　semiconductor　materials　such　as　nanorods,　nanotubes　and　nanowires　as　photocatalysts　in　selective　transformation　under　ambient　conditions.　©　2013　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.