The synthesis of ZnO nanocrystals is reported using a hydrothermal chemical growth technique combined with 248 nm nanosecond excimer laser heating at fluences in the range 0-390 mJ cm(-2). The effect of laser heating in controlling the morphology of the nanocrystals is investigated using optical spectroscopy and electron microscopy characterization. Laser heating is shown to allow control of the crystal morphology from nanoparticles to nanorods as well as to modify the size distributions. The results indicate that not only does the laser accelerate the growth of nanocrystals, but can also produce crystals with a narrow size distribution possibly via photothermal size selection. An initial study of electrical conduction properties of ZnO nanocrystal thin films is also discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.