Zinc　telluride　nanocrystals　were　synthesized　in　sodium　hydroxide　solution　by　the　hydrothermal　method　using　zinc　and　tellurium　powders.　The　zinc　telluride　nanocrystals　were　analyzed　by　X-ray　diffractometry,　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　micro-Raman　spectroscopy.　The　X-ray　diffraction　patterns　indicate　that　zinc　telluride　crystallizes　in　zincblende　structure　and　the　residual　impurities　change　with　the　content　of　sodium　hydroxide.　The　images　of　transmission　electron　microscopy　show　that　the　size　of　zinc　telluride　nanocrystals　varies　with　the　content　of　sodium　hydroxide.　The　Raman　spectra　exhibit　a　series　of　longitudinal　optical　multiphonon　peaks　up　to　the　fourth　order　peak.　Employing　theory　related　to　crystal　growth　and　resonance　Raman　scattering,　growth　of　zinc　telluride　nanocrystals　was　studied　and　their　band　gaps　were　estimated.　These　results　lead　to　further　insights　into　controlling　the　synthesis　of　zinc　telluride　nanocrystals　and　correlation　with　their　electronic　structure.　(c)　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.