Bi4Ti3O12 and (Ni0.5Zn0.5)Fe2O4 nanopowders were prepared by co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods, respectively. It was found that ethanolamine is effective as a precipitating agent in the synthesis of Bi4Ti3O12 nanopowders via co-precipitation, and it also plays an important role in the synthesis of (Ni0.5Zn0.5)Fe2O4 nanopowders. Bi4Ti3O12-(Ni0.5Zn0.5)Fe2O4 multiferroic ceramics were obtained by sintering the as-prepared nanopowders. Lower sintering temperatures (800-900 degrees C) were available when compared with the traditional solid state method and ceramic composites with higher density and limited interfacial reaction were obtained. The ceramics also showed lower dielectric loss and higher magnetic moments. Both the ferroelectric and magnetic phases preserve their individual properties in bulk composite form and thus, these types of composite ceramics appear to be good candidate multiferroic materials. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.