Nano-sized $Y_2O_3$ powders were prepared via a sol-gel method starting with $Y(NO_3)_3{cdot}6H_2O$ (Yttrium(III) nitrate hexahydrate) and water with ethanol as a cosolvent. $Y_2O_3$ is an important rare earth oxide and has been considered for use in nuclear applications, such as ceramic materials, due to its excellent optical and refractory characteristics. It has been used as a chemically stable substrate, a crucible material for melting reactive metals, and a nozzle material for jet casting molten rare earth-iron magnetic alloys. Oxalic acid ($C_2H_2O_4$) has been adopted as a chelating agent in order to control the rate of hydrolysis and polycondensation, and ammonia was added in order to adjust the base condition. The synthesized $Y_2O_3$ powder was characterized using TG/DTA, XRD, FE-SEM, BET and Impedance Analyzer analyses. The powder changed its properties in accordance with the pH conditions of the catalyst. As the pH increases according to the FE-SEM, the grain grew and it showed that the pore size decreased while confirming the effect of the grain size. The nano-material $Y_2O_3$ powders demonstrated that the surface area was improved with the addition of oxalic acid with ammonium hydroxide.