Transparent conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles were synthesized by a novel sol–gel method. Granulated indium and tin were dissolved in HNO 3 and partially complexed with citric acid. A sol–gel process was induced when tertiary butyl alcohol was added dropwise to the above solution. ITO nanoparticles with an average crystallite size of 18.5nm and surface area of 32.6m 2 /g were obtained after the gel was heat-treated at 700°C. The ITO nanoparticles showed good sinterability, the starting sintering temperature decreased sharply to 900°C, and the 1400°C sintered pellet had a density of 98.1% of theoretical density (TD).