The ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method has been used to prepare nanosized powders of metallic, intermetallic compounds and ceramic materials. Spherical nanosized cobalt powders were obtained by USP of aqueous solutions of cobalt nitrate followed by thermal decomposition of generated aerosols in hydrogen atmosphere. Particle sizes of the produced cobalt powder can be controlled by the change of the concentration of an initial solution. Non-agglomerated spherical nanosized cobalt particles in the range of 158-1001 nm were obtained at 800 degrees C. A decrease of the concentration of cobalt nitrate decreases the mean particle diameter from 596 to 480 nm. The discrepancy between the experimentally and theoretically obtained values indicates that the partial coalescence of the droplets occur during the formation of aerosol. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.