Synthesis of Sr1-xLa1+xAl1-xMgxO4 solid solution is achieved by a new soft chemistry route called the nitrate polyacrylamide gel (NPG) process. A comparison between the ceramic method and the NPG route is presented. This method shows that well-crystallized single-phase product can be obtained either at 1200 degreesC for 12 h or 900 degreesC for 120 h instead of 1400 degreesC for 108 h by the ceramic method. BET measurement has shown an enhancement of the surface area up to 7.5 m(2) g(-1). The structural analysis by XRPD or electron microscopy does not reveal any deviation from the ideal K2NiF4-type structure.