Optical properties of porous Al2O3 host -Cr2O3 nanocomposites were investigated Results show that in each spectrum, four absorption bands (p1-p4) appear in the wavelength range of 200 to 800nm. P2, p3 and p4 are induced by Cr3+ d(3) electronic transitions from the (4)A(2) energy level to the energy level T-4(1), T-4(2), and E-2, respectively The appearance of p1 is closely related to Cr3+ and Cr4+. Comparison of absorption bands for porous nanocomposites with that for single crystal Cr2O3 indicates ''blue shift'' of absorption bands. With increasing the pyrolysis temperature, p2, p3 and p4 of porous nanocomposites exhibit ''blue shift''. For porous nanocomposites after heating in H-2, p2, p3 and p4 present ''red shift''. The reasons of the absorption band movement are discussed. (C) 1997 Acta Metallurgica Inc.