V2O3 nanoparticles, with diameters of 30-60 nm, have been synthesized by supercritical ethanol fluid reduction of VOC2O4. It was found that the reaction time has little influence on the purity and morphology of as-prepared products. And carbon oxides decomposed from C2O42- were conducive to the formation of the uniform sphere-like nanoparticles. The reaction mechanism of synthesizing uniform V2O3 nanoparticles is believed to be the redox reaction between VOC2O4 and ethanol in the supercritical condition. The crystal growth mechanism was proposed on the basis of the discussion about the formation process of the uniform sphere-like nanoparticles. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.