High critical temperature, T-c, YBa2Cu4O8 superconducting oxides have been prepared by a solution technique using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as complexing agent. The use of an appropriate complexing agent leads to complete mixing of the Y3+,Ba2+ and Cu2+ cations, and thus facilitates formation of YBa2Cu4O8 at a lower temperature. The effect of pH on the homogeneity of samples is discussed. The superconducting YBa2Cu4O8 sample with T-c = 80 K was obtained after heat treatment at 820 degrees C. Characterization of the sample by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron-probe microanalysis (EPM), electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and other spectroscopic analyses are reported.