Hexagonal phase Sm(OH)(3) nanoroll sticks were first synthesized by hydrothermal method, and cubic phase Sm2O3 nanoroll sticks were obtained by post-annealing treatment at 450 A degrees C. The growth of Sm2O3 nanoroll sticks was found to be [40-4] direction. Their characteristics were examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction crystallography, Raman, FT-IR, UV-Vis-NIR absorption, and temperature-programmed reduction experiment.