Er3+ doped ZnO/zirconium-oxo-alkylsiloxane nanocomposites were prepared from anhydrous zinc acetate, dehydrated erbium (111) acetate, zirconium tetrapropoxide and methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane in toluene solution. A crack-free nanocomposite films with uniform morphology of thickness about 6.0 mu m were fabricated by single step coating operation. The existence of in situ generated ZnO nanoparticles was characterized by photoluminescence measurement of the sample in the visible region. The near infrared photoluminescence study for the Er3+ ZnO/zirconium-oxo-alkylsiloxane nanocomposites showed a broad and strong emission band at 1.55 mu m, which was attributed to the I-4(13/2) -> I-4(15/2) transition of Er3+ ion. The emission intensity of Er3+ was greatly enhanced by incorporating ZnO into zirconium-oxoalkylsiloxane system. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.