The 20 % yttrium doped barium cerate (BCY20) powder has been synthesized by cost effective solution combustion method. The flame temperature measured by pyrometer was 1055°C, less than the adiabatic temperature due to various losses. The phase formation and evolution was studied with TG-DTA and XRD. The carbonate free orthorhombic BCY20 phase was obtained upon calcination at 900°C. The microstructure of the powders and sintered pellet was examined through scanning electron microscopy. The vibrational mode at 355 cm, characteristics of CeO 6 octahedra, was detected in Raman while the bands corresponding to M-O vibrations were revealed in FT-IR. The dc conductivities of sintered pellet measured in argon and air atmospheres at 600°C were 1.53×10 −3 and 1.41×10 −3 S/cm.