A rhenium (Re) nanostructure is described. The rhenium nanostructure is an elongated nanostructure, such as, nanowire, nanorod, nanotube, branched nanostructure, and hollow nanostructure. The Re nanostructure may be a binary Re-metal nanotube, a binary Re-metal nanowire, and a binary Re-metal nanorod. The binary Re-metal nanostructure is a nanostructure composed of Re and at least one metal or non-metal. The metal may be In, Sn, Sb, Pb, and/or Bi. The nanostructure is in powder or in liquid form.