In the present work Pure and Cobalt (Co) doped Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles were synthesized by Sol-gel method. The effect of Co doping on structural and optical properties of Nanoparticles were investigated using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic characterization techniques. The XRD spectrum revealed the formation of Wurtzite structure of ZnO. The structural properties of nanoparticles including particle size and lattice strain were calculated from XRD data. SEM shows the morphology of Nanoparticles. The presence of functional groups was analyzed from FTIR spectra. The properties of Cobalt doped zinc oxide nanoparticles prepared through simple cost effective, Sol-gel method can be used in optoelectronics and thermally stable devices