Chromium nitride (CrN) nanoparticles were synthesized by nitridation of a glucose-assisted combustion synthesized precursor. Effects of glucose on the size and morphology of the precursors as well as synthesized CrN nanoparticles were studied. The results indicated that the precursor, synthesized from glucose (0.025 mol), was comprised of paper-thin flaky particles with high specific surface area (34 m(2)/g). Moreover, the product from glucose nitrided at 800 degrees C for 6 h exhibited single-crystalline structure of each cubic CrN nanocrystal, and consisted of well-distributed particles with an average size of about 20-50 nm. On the contrary, the product without glucose nitrided at 800 degrees C was agglomerated. Glucose was found to induce homogeneous and well-distributed nanoparticles. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.