Microwave assisted combustion synthesis is used for fast and controlled processing of advanced ceramics. Single phase and sinter active nanocrystalline cubic yttria powders were successfully synthesized by microwave assisted combustion using the organic fuels urea, citric acid and glycine as reducing agents. The precursor powders were investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning colorimetry (DSC) analyses. The as-prepared precursors and the resulting oxide powders calcined at 1100 degrees C in oxygen atmosphere were characterized for their structure, particle size and morphology, The thermal analyses (TG/DSC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infra red (FT-IR) results demonstrate the effectiveness of the microwave assisted combustion synthesis. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations show the different morphologies of as-prepared powders and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows the particle sizes in the range of 30-100 nm for calcined powders for different fuels. The results confirm that the homogeneous, nano scale yttria powders derived by microwave assisted combustion have high crystalline quality and the morphology of the as-prepared precursor powders depends on the nature of organic fuel used. (C) 2008 Elsevier FIN. All rights reserved.