CuCrO2 laminar nanocrystals were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal technique. The nanocrystals have a quasi-hexagonal shape with a wide range of size distribution varying from about 10 to 80 nm and thickness less than 10 nm. The results of selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) data and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) indicate the formation of well-formulated, single-crystal CuCrO2. The dominant growth of nuclei is driven along the faces of (0 12), and the growth along the c-axis is very slow, which directly results in the formation of CuCrO2 laminar nanocrystals. Optical properties of CuCrO2 laminar nanocrystals were investigated by UV-vis-Nis absorption spectrum, and direct bandgap was estimated to be 2.95 eV. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.