invention a lead complex pmn precursor is prepared and combined with a prepared niobium complex pmn precursor the resulting solution is reacted with a magnesium alkyl solution to form a pmn precursor solution in the preparation of this precursor solution a precipitate is formed the pmn precursor solution is separated from the undesired precipitate and from this resulting precursor solution either pmn precursor powders or thin films can be prepared pmn precursor powder is produced by removal of all volatile materials through vacuum distillation pmn thin films are generated by standard spin cast deposition methods both the precursor powders and thin films are converted from the metallorganic species to the mixed metal oxide pb mg 1 3 nb 2 3 o 3 by sintering a variety of lead niobium and magnesium compounds were investigated for use as starting materials the reagents evaluated included pb oac 4 oac o 2 cch 3 mg oet 2 oet och 2 ch 3 and nb oet 5 which are commercially available and pb och ch 3 2 2 pb oc ch 3 3 2 pb och 2 c ch 3 3 2 mg och ch 3 2 2 mg oc ch 3 3 2 mg och 2 c ch 3 3 2 and nb och 2 c ch.