Steady sol and gel of SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) was prepared using pentaethoxy tantalum, strontium acetate, and bismuth subnitrate as raw materials and ethylene glycol as a solvent. After a dried gel was pretreated at 350 degreesC for 30 min and then it was calcined at 800 degreesC for 1 h, the perovskite phase SBT ferroelectric powder was obtained. The formation mechanism of the sol and gel was proposed. In the baking process perovskite phase SBT forms via a reaction between bismuth oxide (cubic phase) and strontium tantalate (orthorhombic phase). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.