Nanosize alumina, ceria, yttria, zirconia CeO2 -ZrO2 (OSC), t-ZrO2 -Al2 O3 (ZTA) and Y2 O3 - ZrO2 (YSZ) have been prepared by the combustion of aqueous solutions containing corresponding metal nitrate, ammonium nitrate and glycine redox mixtures. The combustion is non-flaming (smoldering) and yields voluminous oxides with large surface area (10-30 m2 g-1) and nanosize (10-50 nm). Powder XRD and TEM have been used to characterize the products of combustion.