The structural and optical properties of the ZnO and Zn0.99O:Eu 3+ powders synthesized by the hydrothermal method at two dierent temperatures (150 • C and 250• C) were studied. The ZnO and Zn0. 99O:0.01Eu 3+ powders synthesized at 150 and 250• C showed rod-and ower-like morphologies, respectively. The as-synthesized and annealed ZnO and Zn0.99O:0.01Eu 3+ powders formed the wurtzite crystal structure and P 63mc space group. The crystallite size of the as-synthesized and annealed ZnO powders increased by the incorporation of Eu 3+ . The photoluminescence properties of annealed Zn0.99O:0.01Eu 3+ powders were substantially improved by controlling the synthesis temperature. The annealed Zn0.99O:0.01Eu 3+ powders synthesized at 250• C displayed much stronger emission intensity than those at 150• C.