Molybdenum　oxide　nanorods　were　synthesized　on　different　substrates　in　the　thermal　chemical　vapour　deposition　system　at　low　pressure,　where　the　molybdenum　trioxide　and　selenium　powders　were　used　as　the　source　materials.　The　results　of　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscope,　transmission　electron　microscope,　X-ray　diffractometer,　energy　dispersive　X-ray　spectrometer　and　micro-Raman　spectroscope　indicate　that　the　molybdenum　oxide　nanorods　have　a　single-crystalline　structure　and　are　mainly　composed　of　MoO3　with　traces　of　MoO2　and　Mo4O11.　A　vapour-solid　growth　mechanism　based　on　the　condensation　of　MoO3-x　molecules　and　the　diffusion　of　MoO3　molecules　on　the　substrate　has　been　proposed　to　explain　the　formation　of　molybdenum　oxide　nanorods.　Furthermore,　the　photoluminescence　(PL)　properties　of　molybdenum　oxide　nanorods　have　been　studied　in　Ramalog　system　using　a　325　nm　line　of　He-Cd　laser　as　the　excitation　source.　The　PL　results　show　that　the　molybdenum　oxide　nanorods　generate　strong　green　PL　bands　located　at　about　510　and　521　nm　and　weak　PL　band　located　at　about　654　nm,　which　are　related　to　the　defects　in　the　molybdenum　oxide　nanorods.　The　outcomes　can　enrich　our　knowledge　on　the　synthesis　and　optical　properties　of　molybdenum　oxide　nanomaterials　and　contribute　to　the　development　of　optoelectronic　devices　related　to　molybdenum　oxide　nanomaterials.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.