ZrO2 porous nanosolid has been successfully prepared by a novel hydrothermal hot-press (HHP) method, using ZrO2 nanoparticles and deionized water as the starting materials. Furthermore, an organic dye, rhodamine B (RhB) was assembled into the pores of ZrO2 porous nanosolids, and RhB/ZrO2 porous nanocomposite was obtained. Because of the interaction between RhB molecules and the surface atoms of ZrO2 porous nanosolid, a photoluminescence (PL) enhancement and a blue-shift of the PL peak were observed in ZrO2/RhB composites compared with that of RhB. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.