Malachite nanoparticles have been synthesized utilising the polyol-mediated synthesis. Reaction of copper sulphate with sodium carbonate in ethylene glycol medium results in the formation of malachite nanoparticles of sub-10 nm dimensions. The structure of malachite in the synthesized product was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy. Examination by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that nanoparticles are thermally decomposed to Cu2O and copper during exposure to the electron beam. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.