ZnO nanocrystallites have been in situ embedded in cellulose nanofibers by a novel method that combines electrospinning and solvothermal techniques. Zn(OAc)(2)/cellulose acetate (CA) precursor hybrid nanofibers with diameter in the range of 160-330 nm were first fabricated via the electrospinning technique using zinc acetate as precursor, CA as the carrier, and dimethylformamide (DMF)/acetone(2 : 1) mixture as cosolvent. The precursor nanofibers were transformed into ZnO/cellulose hybrid fibers by hydrolysis in 0.1 mol/L NaOH aqueous solution. Subsequently, these hybrid fibers were further solvothermally treated in 180 degrees C glycerol oil bath to improve the crystallite structure of the ZnO nanoparticles containing in the nanofibers. The structure and morphology of nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. It was found that hexagonal structured ZnO nanocrystallites with the size of similar to 30 nm were dispersed on the nanofiber surfaces and within the nanofibers with diameter of about 80 nm. The photocatalytic property of the ZnO/cellulose hybrid nanofibers toward Rhodamine (RhB) was tested under the irradiation of visible light. As a catalyst, it inherits not only the photocatalytic ability of nano-ZnO, but also the thermal stability, good mechanical property, and solvent-resistibility of cellulose nanofibers. The key advantages of this hybrid nanofiber over neat ZnO nanoparticles are its elasticity, dimensional stability, durability, and easy recyclability. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 1757-1764, 2011