Nano-crystalline 8YSZ was synthesized by the glycine-nitrate process in a muffle furnace using zirconyl nitrate and yttrium nitrate as sources of oxidants. The effect of changing the elemental stoichiometric coefficient over a wide range (0.756-1.605) on the product characteristics (crystallite size, percent unreacted, surface area) has been investigated. It is demonstrated that the combustion reaction proceeds most efficiently in the fuel-lean region. A novel and simple mathematical model is presented that allows to evaluate the thickness of the sheet-like particles of the foamy final product based on BET data. The calculated thickness values are in good agreement with the experimental data. For the first time, the effect of using ammonium nitrate as a combustion aid for the stoichiometric precursor composition has been studied. The optimum amount of combustion aid addition has been determined.