Nanocrystalline alpha -Al2O3 ceramic powders have been prepared from an aqueous solution of aluminum nitrate and sucrose. Soluble Al ion-sucrose solution forms the precursor material once it is completely dehydrated. Heat treatment of the dehydrated precursors at low temperature (600 degreesC) results in the formation of porous single-phase alpha -Al2O3. The precursor and heat-treated powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and BET surface area analysis. The phase-pure nanocrystalline alpha -Al2O3 particles had an average specific surface area of > 190 m(2)/g, with an average pore size between 18 and 25 nm.