Zinc　telluride　(ZnTe)　powders　were　synthesized　in　sodium　hydroxide　solution　by　the　hydrothermal　method　under　different　conditions,　in　which　zinc　and　tellurium　powders　were　used　as　precursors.　Their　structures　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffractometer,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy,　and　micro-Raman　spectrometer.　The　results　indicate　that　the　powders　are　composed　of　ZnTe　nanocrystals　with　zincblende　structure　and　contain　some　impurities,　and　the　average　sizes　of　ZnTe　nanocrystals　are　about　67,　92,　and　112　nm　when　they　were　grown　at　120　degrees　C　for　1,　2,　and　6　h,　respectively.　The　Raman　spectra　show　three　peaks　centered　at　about　205,　410,　and　616　cm(-1),　which　are　attributed　to　the　longitudinal　optical　phonon　vibration　modes　of　ZnTe.　The　photoluminescence　(PL)　of　ZnTe　nanopowders　were　also　investigated　at　room　temperature　and　the　PL　spectra　show　three　emission　peaks　at　about　555,　578,　and　701　nm,　which　are　related　to　the　complex　defects　and　isolelectronic　oxygen　trap.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.