Zinc oxide nanoparticles coated with Al 2 O 3 were prepared by calcining basic carbonate of zinc (BCZ) powders coated with Al(OH) 3 precipitation at 400–600°C. Al(OH) 3 was coated on the surface of BCZ powders which are precursor for ZnO, in stead of calcined ZnO particles. The size and shape of BCZ powders are different after coating with Al 2 O 3 , as a result, ZnO particles with about 50–80nm were prepared by calcining coated BCZ at 600°C. There is a homogeneous coating with about 5nm on the surface of as-calcined ZnO nanoparticles. TEM, XPS and zeta potentials were used to characterize the coated ZnO nanoparticles.