ZrB 2 -ZrC-SiC nanopowders with uniform phase distribution were prepared from cost-effective ZrOCl 2 •8H 2 O by a simple sol-gel method. The synthesis route, ceramization mechanism and morphology evolution of the nanopowders were investigated. ZrB 2 -ZrC-SiC ceramic precursor can be successfully obtained through hydrolysis and condensation reactions between the raw materials. Pyrolysis of the precursor was completed at 650 o C, and it produced ZrO 2 , SiO 2 , B 2 O 3 and amorphous carbon with a yield of 39% at 1300 o C. By heat-treated at 1500 o C for 2 h, highly crystallized ZrB 2 -ZrC-SiC ceramics with narrow size distribution were obtained. With the holding time of 2 h, both the crystal size and the particle size can be refined.Further prolonging the holding time can lead to serious particles coarsening. Studies