A mild solvothermal route has been developed to synthesize alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles using Fe(NO3)(3) as a starting material. The results from XRD and TEM indicate the alpha-Fe2O3 powders possess a rhombohedrally centered hexagonal structure, and the size of particles from alcohothermal method at 160 degreesC is about 50-100 nm. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.