Bismuth tri-iodide is a layered compound semiconductor which has suitable properties as material for ionizing radiation detection devices. Monocrystals and polycrystalline thin films have been studied for this application, but only recently, the development of nanostructures of this compound has emerged as an interesting alternative for using such nanostructures in new types of radiation detectors or for including them in other applications. Considering this, we present in this work BiI3 nanoparticles successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method, using a Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclave, at a temperature of 180 degrees C during 8-20 h, with BiCl3 and NaI as source materials. We characterized the nanoparticles by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). We obtained small rounded or hexagonal particles (10-20 nm in size) and larger structures. The maximum orientation of the nanostructures is along the (0 0 l) family planes and occurs after 16 h of synthesis, which arises as the best condition for obtaining BiI3 oriented nanostructures. When a 100 kV TEM electron beam was converged on the larger structures, we obtained highly oriented BiI3 hexagonal and rod shaped nanostructures. We found that particles' shape does not depend on the synthesis time. In addition, results were compared with the ones obtained for nanoparticles synthesized from solution. The present work is an advance in the synthesis of BiI3 nanostructures by the hydro thermal method, and is also the first step on seeking the amenable control of morphology and size of such structures using electron beam irradiation. This last process may be particularly appropriate for producing nanostructures for future applications in new devices. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.