The present work applies solution combustion synthesis (SCS) by employing glycine as organic fuel to stimulate the synthesis of pure iron orthophosphate with well-defined reaction parameters. The structural and morphological properties of the products were characterized and confirmed by powder Xray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface analyzer, respectively. Thermal behaviors were also investigated by TG/DT analyses. The optimal condition was set at 500 degrees C in a few minutes, giving pure iron orthophosphate with a good level of crystallinity and 11,769 m(2)/g surface area. The results proved SCS a time saving and practically applicable method. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.