The preparation of nano-sized BaCeO(3) powder using starch as a polymerization agent is described herein. Phase evolution during the decomposition process of a (BaCe)-gel was monitored by XRD. A phase-pure nano-sized BaCeO(3) powder was obtained after calcining of the (BaCe)-gel at 920 degrees C. The resulting powder has a specific surface area of 15.4 m(2)/g. TEM investigations reveal particles mainly in the size range of 30 to 65 nm. The shrinkage and sintering behavior of resulting powder compacts were studied in comparison to a coarse-grained mixed-oxide BaCeO(3) powder (S(BET) = 2.1 m(2)/g). Dilatometric measurements show that the beginning of shrinkage of compacts from the nano-sized powder is downshifted by 300 degrees C compared to mixed-oxide powder. Compacts from the nano-sized powder reach a relative density of 91% after sintering at 1450 degrees C for 10 h. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.