A general and programmed fast crystallization process (about 12 seconds) was designed to synthesize binary (MO_x) and ternary (ABO₃, A₂BO₄) metal oxide nanomaterials with controllable sizes and composition. The fast crystallization process mainly included the burning of metal-nitrate–filter-paper without additional energy supply and it can lead to the formation of exceptionally fine binary and ternary crystallites with sizes of ∼10–20 nm. The thermodynamic reduction potential of the metal-nitrate–filter-paper burning system can be estimated to be between −0.26 and 1.72 V, which can favor the occurrence of redox reactions, i.e. Cu²⁺ → Cu⁺ → Cu, Ni²⁺ → Ni, Co²⁺ → Co³⁺, Ce³⁺ → Ce⁴⁺, and Pr³⁺ → Pr⁴⁺. When used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, most of the as-burned metal oxides displayed high cycling stability. The discharge capacity of CoO nanoparticles can reach as high as 501.1 mA h g⁻¹ after continuous 50 discharge–charge cycles at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹. The proposed fast crystallization route provided a versatile, facile and fast method for the synthesis of functional metal oxide nanomaterials with controllable sizes and composition.