Copper oxide has been synthesized at low temperature (450°C) by the combustion of gel prepared from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and copper (II) nitrate. The crystalline phase and morphological characterizations of CuO were carried out by means by X-ray difftaction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that tenorite nanosized CuO phase was fonned at temperature as low as 300°C. Further thennal treatment from 150°C to 450°C in 2 hour yields the single phase CuO with average primary size 100 nm. The effects of pH value of the precursor solution as well as the molar ratio of copper (II) cation over PVA, calcinations temperature, gel formation temperature on the formation oftenorite CuO phase were also investigated.