Aligned Sb-doped ZnO nanocolumns were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. Based on the analyses of the X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence result, it could be confirmed that the Sb has successfully doped in the ZnO crystal lattices to form an accepter energy level. At 85 K, the recombination of the acceptor-bound exciton was predominant in PL spectrum, which was attributed to the transition of the (Sb(zn)-2V(zn)) complex bound exciton. The acceptor binding energy had been calculated to be 123 meV. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.