We describe the preparation of lead oxide nanopowders by a combustion synthesis process in which nitric acid and glycine are used as oxidant and fuel reagents respectively. We observe that the fuel-to-oxidant ratio affects the phase formation, valence, yield, particle shape and size of lead oxide powders. 60 nm-diameter lead oxide particles, with a yield of 86%, were obtained for a 1.7 glycine-to-nitrate molar ratio. This process produces powders with greater uniformity and smaller particle size than commercially available and we illustrate the improvement that these nanopowders offer in the synthesis of (1 - x)Pb(Mg Nb )O PbTiO (called PMN-PT) transparent ceramics by solid-state reaction.