This study developed a method, pyrogenation-with-sugar-protection, to prepare Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3 nanopowders at a temperature as low as 500 degrees C. In this method, the process of agglomeration is controlled and the excessive grain growth is avoided. Studies by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate that the powders are well crystallized, chemically stoichiometric and similar to 50nm in diameter. It is a universal method to prepare various oxide nanopowders without calcination at a high temperature. The dense ceramics with grain size lower than 1 mu m can be obtained sintering at 1150 degrees C using the powder prepared by this method and the piezoelectric and dielectric properties of them were also investigated. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.