Y-doped (Sr, Pb)TiO3 powders were prepared by a sol-gel route as well as the calcination of gel precursors. The results of DTA/TG showed that the thermal decomposition of dry precursors mainly occurred below 600degreesC. Meanwhile, infrared ray (IR) spectrum meter, X-ray diffraction (XRD) meter and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to characterize the synthesized powders, respectively. Using the synthesized powders as starting materials, Sr0.5Pb0.5TiO3 semiconducting ceramics were fabricated at 1050degreesC. Sample's room temperature resistivity is 1.51 x 10(2) Omega.cm, its resistivity jumps more than 5 orders of magnitude above the Curie temperature (T-c). With increasing the soaking time, the room temperature resistivity and the negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) effect below T-c increased, showing the electrical properties of ( Sr, Pb) TiO3 thermistors are obviously affected by PbO loss. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.