The Cu-doped ZnO and pure ZnO powders were synthesized by sol-gel method. The structural properties of the samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. All the results confirmed that copper ions were well incorporated into the ZnO lattices by substituting Zn sites without changing the wurtzite structure and no secondary phase existed in Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles. The Zn0.97Cu0.03O nanoparticles exhibited ferromagnetism at room temperature, as established by the vibrating sample magnetometer analysis. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.