A　kind　of　novel　lead-free　ferroelectrics,　potassium　bismuth　titanate,　K0.5Bi0.5TiO3　(KBT),　has　been　prepared　by　the　sol-gel　process.　The　amorphous　dried　gels　were　first　transformed　into　Bi2Ti2O7　phase　at　low　heat-treated　temperature　and　as　the　temperature　increased　to　700　degreesC,　only　pure　KBT　phase　can　be　observed　and　there　was　no　evidence　of　second　phase.　KBT　ferroelectric　ceramics　were　fabricated　from　the　natural　sintering　of　700　degreesC-treated　powders,　which　have　a　particle　size　of　100-200　nm.　The　KBT　ceramics　sintered　at　1050　degreesC　showed　typical　characteristics　of　relaxor　ferroelectric,　and　the　dielectric　properties　were　better　than　that　prepared　by　a　solid-state　reaction　method.　(C)　2004　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.