Nano-sized Sr0.5Ba0.5 Nb2O6 (SBN50) powder has been synthesized, at very short reaction time, for the first time by a novel combustion method. Ba(NO3)(2) and Sr(NO3)(2) were used as source of Sr and Ba, respectively, while Nb-oxalate was used as the source of niobium. Urea, hexamethyltetramine (HMT) and glycine were used as fuel. The crystallite sizes in the powder ranged between 14-125 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis showed complete SBN50 phase formation at 700 degreesC, when urea/HMT was used as fuel, and at 900 degreesC when glycine was used as fuel. Ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition temperature (T,) close to 40 degreesC was observed when urea and HMT were used and the T-c was -49 degreesC when glycine was used. When urea was used as fuel highest dielectric constant was observed for the pellets sintered at 1250 degreesC for 4 h. Low dielectric loss was observed when HMT was used as fuel. Larger grain sizes in the sintered pellets were observed when glycine was used as fuel. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.