Yttrium silicate (Y2SiO5,) powders of high purity have been synthesized using the sol-gel method. Alkoxide precursors were used with commercial tetraethyl orthosilicate as the silica source and yttrium propoxide synthesized from YCl3. Powders calcined from the xerogel showed submicrometer crystal sizes. These powders were sintered at temperatures <1300degreesC and are suitable for coating applications such as a thermal barrier system for SiC/SiC composites.