The nano-Bi2 O3 powders were prepared by a chemical precipitation method with Bi(NO3)3, H NO3 and NaOH as reactants. The structural characteristics and morphology of nano-Bi2O3 powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The results show that under the optimum condition that 300 g/L Bi(NO3)3 reacts at 90 ℃ for 2 h, the Bi2O3 powders with 60 nm on the average and 99.5% in purity are obtained. The prepared nano-Bi2 O3 powders contain a mixed crystal structure of monoclinic and triclinic in stead of traditional structure of monoclinic α-Bi2 O3. And the mixed crystal structure is stable in air. The reason for the appearance of the mixed crystal structure may be that the ionic radius ratio of Bi3+ to O2- changes easily during the formation of nano-Bi2 O3 particles by a chemical precipitation method.