The reaction of yttrium acetate hydrate in 1,2-propanediol at 300 degrees C yielded a product containing acetate groups and glycol moieties. From this product, Y2O3 was directly crystallized at 400 degrees C without the formation of a carbonate oxide phase. The thus-obtained Y2O3 samples had a small crystallite size (2.2 nm) and significantly large surface area (280 m(2)/g). Other nanocrystalline rare earth (Gd-Yb) oxides were also obtained by this method. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.