Mesoporous metal oxides and processes for preparation thereof

A mesoporous metal oxide produced by a process comprising:

• providing a micellar solution comprising one or more metal precursors, one or more surfactants, one or more interface modifiers, one or more hydrotropic nitrate ion precursors, and optionally one or more organic and/or inorganic additives;
• wherein said micellar solution comprises a dispersion of inverse micelles in which at least a portion of said one or more metal precursors are solubilized in the inverse micelles;
• and
• heating the micellar solution at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to form the mesoporous metal oxide.

A method of controlling nano-sized wall crystallinity and mesoporosity in mesoporous metal oxides, said method comprising:

• providing a micellar solution comprising one or more metal precursors, one or more surfactants, one or more interface modifiers, one or more hydrotropic nitrate ion precursors, and optionally one or more organic and/or inorganic additives;
• wherein said micellar solution comprises a dispersion of inverse micelles in which at least a portion of said one or more metal precursors are solubilized in the inverse micelles;
• and
• heating the micellar solution at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to control nano-sized wall crystallinity and mesoporosity in the mesoporous metal oxides.

A method of tuning structural properties of mesoporous metal oxides, said method comprising:

• selecting one or more metal precursors, one or more surfactants, one or more interface modifiers, and one or more hydrotropic nitrate ion precursors;
• providing a micellar solution comprising said one or more metal precursors, one or more surfactants, one or more interface modifiers, one or more hydrotropic nitrate ion precursors, and optionally one or more organic and/or inorganic additives;
• wherein said micellar solution comprises a dispersion of inverse micelles in which at least a portion of said one or more metal precursors are solubilized in the inverse micelles;
• and
• heating the micellar solution at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to form the mesoporous metal oxides.