A chromium source, ammonium dichromate, has been used to synthesize ultrafine La0.7Ca0.3CrO3 interconnect powder for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) by combustion synthesis technique. Ammonium dichromate is the replacement of conventional chromium nitrate which is hygroscopic and relatively expensive. Besides being a chromium source, ammonium dichromate acts as a fuel in the auto combustion reaction. The La0.7Ca0.3CrO3 powders as derived from dichromate source can be sintered to near theoretical density at a temperature as low as 1400 degrees C and the properties of the samples are at par with those prepared using the conventional chromium nitrate under identical processing conditions. (c) 2006 The Electrochemical Society.