In the present work, molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) powder with novel morphology and good photochromic properties was successfully synthesized via a facile chemical method. The capping agent 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP) was found to be vital in the formation of the morphology, as well as the good photochromism of MoO3. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N-2 adsorption-desorption analysis (BET) and ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.