Pure and Eu3+ doped beta-Ga2O3 hollow nanostructures were synthesized by hydrothermal and calcination processes using carbon spheres as templates in ethanol water solution. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed beta-Ga2O3 hollow nanostructures with diameters of approximately 200 nm and shell thickness of about 20 nm. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the carbon@Ga(OH)CO3 core shell nanostructures were in amorphous phase before calcination. After calcination, the amorphous core shell structures yielded highly crystalline beta-Ga2O3 hollow nanostructures with spherical shape. The presence of the Ga(OH)CO3 in the shell components is confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectrum. The Eu3+ doped beta-Ga2O3 hollow nanostructures showed strong red emission corresponding to the 504 7Fi transition. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.