The present research describes a modified sol-gel process that has been developed for the preparation of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) (0.52/0.48) powders. In this route, diethanolamine (DEA) was used as a complexing agent to keep the metal ions in homogeneous solutions without undergoing precipitation. Drying treatment led to development of transparent gel network. Phase-pure perovskite structure was formed at 500 degrees C. The crystallization behavior of the sot-gel-derived powders was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and simultaneous thermal analysis. Differences between the sequence of phase formation encountered in the traditional (oxide-mix) synthesis and that in chemically derived lead zirconate titanate ceramics are discussed. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.