Graphene-ZnO composites (G-ZnO) with controlled morphology and photoluminescence property were synthesized by a mixed solvothermal method. Mixed solvent were composed by dimethyl sulfoxide and ethylene glycol. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize G-ZnO. Graphene as a substrate can help the distribution and the dispersity of ZnO, and a possible model of the interaction between graphene oxide and ZnO particles is proposed. At the same time, graphene also reduce the size of ZnO particles to about 5 nm. Furthermore, Mn2+ ions dopes G-ZnO successfully by the mixed solvothermal synthesis and the doping of Mn2+ makes G-ZnO shift red from 465 nm to 548 nm and 554 am in the emission spectrum. The changes of the emission spectrum by the adding of Mn2+ make G-ZnO have tunable photoluminescence spectrum which is desirable for practical applications. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.