Presented here is a novel one-step synthesis of oxide or hydroxide nanoparticles using, for the first time, potassium superoxide (KO2). This work demonstrates that the reaction of KO2 with different salt solutions produces grams of stable, near unit-cell sized nanoparticles. This new synthetic technique is applied to representative elements from across the periodic table to rapidly produce nanometer sized oxides or hydroxides of Mg, Al, Y, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, TI, Pb, and Ce. This technique is also used to produce blends of nanoparticles, demonstrating the ability to prepare complex materials such as nanoparticulate blends of a lithium cathode material (LiCoO2), the multiferroic compound (BiMnO3+delta), and the superconducting YBa(2)Cu(3)O7(-y).