Ag/ZnO　core/shell　nanostructure　was　synthesised　by　a　248-nm　KrF　excimer　pulsed　laser　ablation　in　a　liquid　solution　for　the　first　time.　It　was　found　that　the　surface　plasma　resonance　absorption　of　the　Ag/ZnO　core/shell　nanostructures　can　be　tuned　by　the　thickness　of　the　ZnO　shell,　which　is　in　agreement　with　the　finite　difference　in　the　time　domain　simulation.　Furthermore,　the　ultraviolet　emission　spectrum　of　the　Ag/ZnO　core/shell　nanostructures　was　stronger　and　blue-shifted　compared　with　that　of　pure　ZnO　nanoparticles.　This　interesting　photoluminescent　phenomenon　is　analysed　in　detail　and　a　possible　explanation　is　proposed.　(C)　2015　Author(s).