Nanocrystalline MgO was synthesized via the sol–gel combustion method using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and metal nitrate as precursor. The structural, optical and morphologies of MgO nanoparticles have been characterized by X-raydiffraction (XRD), UV–vis Spectrophotometry,Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM)and Transmission ElectronMi-croscopy(TEM).