The solar furnaces make it possible to implement high temperature material processing. The solar physical vapor deposition (SPVD) is an original process to prepare nanopowders. This method is illustrated by borrowing results obtained on oxides such as ZnO pure or containing various elements in addition. It is shown that the X-rays diffraction analysis allows a fine nanostructural characterisation of these powders while informing on their composition and on coherence diffraction domain (size and shape anisotropy). In many cases, HRTEM achieves the XRD analysis. An exploration of the properties of these nanopowders led to highlight original behaviours. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.