High quality ZnO nanocombs have been fabricated in high yields through oxidative evaporation of pure zinc powder without catalyst at 600–650 C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations showed that the resulting ZnO nanostructures have one main type of single crystal morphology. Investigations through XRD revealed that the growth of the synthesized ZnO nanostructures was controlled by a vapor–solid (VS) mechanism. The band gaps of the products are ∼3.26 eV determined from UV/visible absorption spectral results. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the nanocombs showed a UV emission at 388 nm and a broad green emission at 520 nm. Such novel structures are promising for applications in some special fields.