Here we presented a facile electrochemical deposition route for the controllable preparation of La3+/ZnO hierarchical nanostructures, such as flower-like nanostructures consisted of nanorods, flower bundles, and hexagonal nanorods with nests at the top. These prepared La3+/ZnO deposits were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis spectrophotometer, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The formation process of La3+-doped ZnO and the growth mechanisms of La3+/ZnO hierarchical nanostructures were discussed. The UV and PL spectra measurements show that the surface morphologies of La3+/ZnO deposits have an obvious effect on their optical properties and we can easily adjust their optical properties as well as La3+-/ZnO nanostructures by changing electrochemical deposition parameters. In addition, the magnetic properties of La3+/ZnO deposits were also investigated. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.