Fine powders of Y2Sn2O7 nanocrystals with pyrochlore structure have been successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method in an alkaline system. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, photoluminescence characterization of the Y2Sn2O7 nanocrystals doped with 5 mol% Eu3+ was carried out, and the results show that there were some intense and prevailing emission peaks located at 580-635 nm. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.