A sol-gel method was adopted to synthesize novel perovskite-based nanopowders: (1-x)BaTiO3-xDyScO(3) (0 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 0.06), which exhibited a relatively pure pseudo-cubic perovskite structure when xerogel was calcined at 750 A degrees C. Through the employment of PEG 400 as dispersant, narrow size distributed particles of similar to 15-20 nm were achieved. Pellets pressed from the nanopowders can be densified at a lower sintering temperature of 1150 A degrees C, compared with 1475 A degrees C by solid-state reaction method. The phase formation, microstructure, dielectric properties, and relaxor behavior of (1-x)BaTiO3-xDyScO(3) were investigated systematically. With an increasing DyScO3 doping concentration in BaTiO3, a tetragonal to pseudo-cubic phase transition appeared at x = 0.03, and two different doping behaviors (donor or acceptor-type) of Dy3+ in (1-x)BaTiO3-xDyScO(3) were discussed. The grain growth of BaTiO3 ceramics was inhibited, and the grain size was decreased to 200 nm for x = 0.06. The dielectric peak was broadened and the curie temperature dropped gradually, accompanied by an increased room-temperature permittivity. Furthermore, a typical relaxor behavior was observed at x = 0.05 and 0.06, according to the modified Curie-Weiss law.