V2O3 nanocrystals have been synthesized by plasma hydrogen reduction technique via a single precursor of V2O5 powders. Addition of Al2O3 powder to the precursor produces Al-doped V2O3 nanocrystals. The V2O3 nanocrystals synthesized by present method have a spherical shape and are single crystalline. The sizes of V2O3 nanocrystals are in the rage of 35-50 nm. The V2O3 nanocrystal exhibits an obvious metal-insulator transition near 160 K, and increases with Al doping. The V2O3 nanocrystals have an average transmission rate over 50% in wavelength ranging from 5 mu m to 25 mu m. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.