Tin dioxide (SnO2) nanoparticles having 3 nm size were synthesized by irradiating pure tin metal using high power Nd:YAG laser in deionized water. Formation of nano-SnO2 crystallites was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and AFM study. UV-vis absorption spectral studies showed a peak at 240 nm. FTIR spectrum showed a band in the range of 400-700 cm(-1) which was assigned to Sn-O antisymmetric vibrations. Photoluminescence spectrum of synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles showed peak corresponding to 3.175, 2.901 and 2.613 eV respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.