Ba2Ti9O20 was synthesized by Pechini method using citric acid as a chelating agent and ethylene glycol as an esterification agent. The effects, of the pH of the starting solutions and the molar ratio of citric acid to total metal cations concentration on the formation of Ba2Ti9O20, were investigated. Increasing the pH of the starting solutions enhances the formation of Ba2Ti9O20, but the increase of the molar ratio of citric acid to total metal cations concentration retards the formation of Ba2Ti9O20 due to increased diffusion distances. Single-phase Ba2Ti9O20, was obtained at 1200 degreesC for 4 h when the molar ratio of citric acid to total metal cations concentration was unity, regardless of the pH of the starting solutions. Increasing the molar ratio of citric acid to total metal cations concentration up to 2, single-phase Ba2Ti9O2 was synthesized at 1200 degreesC for 6 h for the precursors with pH 3.5 and 6, but not for the precursors with pH 2.0. DTA, TG, XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the precursors and the derived oxide powders. Details of the synthesis and characterizations of the resultant products were given. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.