Using low-melting-point Sr(NO3)(2) (melting point: 570 degrees C) and high-reactive-activity TiO2 nanocrystals (Degussa P25 TiO2) as the raw materials, phase-pure SrTiO3 nanocrystals were prepared at 600 degrees C. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the as-prepared products were cubic phase SrTiO3 with a surface composition of Sr0.97TiO2.92. Transmission electron microscopy image showed that the as-prepared SrTiO3 comprised nanocrystals with the size of about 24-44 nm. UV-vis absorption spectrum of the as-prepared SrTiO3 nanocrystals displayed a wide absorption peak centered at around 365 nm (3.4 eV). together with a tail at the lower energy side. This kind of low temperature and cost-effective method can also be extended to prepare BaTiO3 nanocrystals, simply by substituting Ba(NO3)(2) for Sr(NO3)(2). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.