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Plate-shaped ZnO nanocrystals are prepared by a facile and environmentally friendly molten salt method, in which Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 nanorods are first synthesized via a facile one-step, solid-state reaction route at room temperature and then decomposed in NaCl flux. Photoluminescence property demonstrates that the as-prepared plate-shaped ZnO nanocrystals exhibit a strong blue emission centered at about 483 nm. Raman scattering spectrum reveals that the as-prepared plate-shaped ZnO nanocrystals have the oxygen deficiency, which can be confirmed by the appearance of oxygen-deficiency-related vibrational mode at 583 cm−1 in the Raman spectrum. The oxygen deficiency existing in the plate-shaped ZnO nanocrystals results in the formation of the oxygen vacancy, which is most likely responsible for the strong blue emission of the plate-shaped ZnO nanocrystals. These new plate-shaped ZnO nanocrystals with strong blue emission are expected to show considerable potential applications in luminescence, lasing and optoelectronic devices.