The　sol-gel-hydrothermal　processing　of　K0.5Bi0.5TiO3　(KBT)　nanowires　as　well　as　their　sintering　behavior　at　1000-1100　degrees　C　were　investigated.　The　morphological　analyses　indicated　that　sol-gel-hydrothermal　route　led　to　the　formation　of　KBT　nanowires　with　diameters　of　4　nm　and　lengths　of　100　nm　at　low　processing　temperature　of　200　degrees　C　with　KOH　concentration　of　6　M.　It　is　believed　that　the　gel　precursor　and　hydrothermal　environment　play　an　important　role　in　the　formation　of　the　nanowires.　The　KBT　ceramics　with　a　relative　density　of　more　than　95%　can　be　successfully　fabricated　from　the　high　quality　KBT　nanowires　even　by　a　conventional　sintering　process.　The　KBT　ceramics　sintered　at　1050　degrees　C　showed　typical　characteristics　of　relaxor　ferroelectrics,　and　the　dielectric　properties　were　better　than　that　prepared　by　all　other　methods　reported　previously.　(C)　2006　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.