Nanocrystalline Cu 0.5Co 0.5Fe 2O 4 powders were prepared via a metal-cellulose precursor synthetic route. Cellulose was used as a fuel and a dispersing agent. The resulting precursors were calcined in the temperature range of 450-600 °C. The phase development of the samples was determined by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The field-dependent magnetizations of the nanopowders were measured by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). All XRD patterns are of a spinel ferrite with cubic symmetry. Microstructure of the ferrites showed irregular shapes and uniform particles with agglomeration. From XRD data, the crystallite sizes are in range of 16-42 nm. Saturation magnetization and coercivity increased with increasing calcining temperature due to enhancement of crystallinity and reduction of oxygen vacancies. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.