Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) were synthesized by solution combustion method using glycine and citric acid as fuels. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) result confirms the face centered cubic (fcc) structure of NiO. The octahedral shape of NiO NPs was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). It is possible to suggest that the organic fuel (citric acid/glycine) is responsible for the formation of the octahedral shape due to the easier complex formation. Photocatalytic activity of NiO NPs also evaluated and found that the prepared NiO NPs have high photocatalytic degradation. In the present study, the crystalline nature and shape of the NiO nanoparticles plays a vital role in determining the photocatalytic activity. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.