A new organic fuel (poly(acrylic acid)) was adopted to fabricate well-dispersed Y2O3 nano-powders according to the solution combustion method. The improved combustion method requires no tedious operation or restriction conditions. The effects of organic fuel dosage and calcination temperature on the characteristics of Y2O3 powders were investigated. The results indicate that the Y2O3 can be formed at 400 degrees C and well crystallined at 500 degrees C with a nitrate and organic fuel mass ratio of 7:1. The addition of organic fuel significantly improves the dispersity and reduces the particle size of Y2O3 powders, whereas the increase in calcination temperature leads to the slight increase in the particle size of the Y2O3 powders. The well-dispersed Y2O3 powders with the particle size range of 10-30 nm are obtained at 500 degrees C when the mass ratio of the organic fuel and nitrate is 7:2. The poly(acrylic acid) is a new and feasible fuel for the solution combustion method to prepare well-dispersed Y2O3 nano-powders. (C) 2015 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.