Er 3+ -doped ZrO 2 nanotube arrays were prepared by anodization of Zr–Er alloy which was obtained by melting zirconium with 1.0wt% erbium. The morphology, structure and photoluminescence properties were studied through scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence analyzer. X-ray diffraction results indicate that doping of Er 3+ affects the crystal structure and grain size obviously and the Er 3+ -doped samples tend to form small tetragonal grains. Photoluminescence analyses show that when Er 3+ -doped zirconia nanotube arrays are excited at 317nm, there are two strong photoluminescence emission peaks at 373nm and 415nm. When the excitation wavelength is 257nm, a photoluminescence emission peak appears at 363nm. Under same measurement conditions, emission peaks of the undoped ZrO 2 nanotube arrays are very weak.