Abstract Single-crystal Bi 2 Te 3 –Te nanocomposites with heterostructure were synthesized using a two-step solvothermal process in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt. The first step is the formation of the Te nanorods and the second step is to grow the Bi 2 Te 3 sheets off the Te rods surface to form the Bi 2 Te 3 –Te nanocomposites. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. We demonstrate a method of an epitaxial growth of Bi 2 Te 3 nanosheets perpendicular to the axis of the central Te rod and a formation process of Bi 2 Te 3 –Te nanocomposites is also proposed.