Single crystalline Eu3+ doped yttrium oxysulfide (Y2O2S) nanocrystals, nanosheets, nanobelts, nanotubes, nanorods and nanowires have been successfully prepared via precursors of Y(OH)(3) nanostructures in high yields and purities by a convenient hydrothermal method under mild conditions. Comprehensive structural, morphological and spectroscopical studies have been carried out on the nanometre scale. The as-prepared samples are characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), to investigate the elementary states on the Surfaces. A significant shift (similar to 0.22-0.36 eV) in the optical spectra of the Y2O2S:Eu3+ system corresponding to the fundamental absorption and charge transfer bands, respectively, with respect to the bulk Counterpart. The zero and one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures are good candidates for investigating size-induced opto-electronic properties of functional oxysulfides. In order to identify the origin and nature of the electronic transitions observed in the visible region, the photo-induced impedance measurements have been extended to the zero and 1D nanostructures. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.