Mesoporous metal oxides and processes for preparation thereof

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

• providing an acidic inverse micellar mixture comprising a metal precursor, an interface modifier, a hydrotropic ion precursor, and a surfactant, wherein water is eliminated or minimized to prevent the aggregation of metal oxide clusters;
• and
• heating the acidic mixture at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to control nano-sized wall crystallinity and mesoporosity in the mesoporous metal oxides;
• wherein the mesoporous metal oxides have nano-sized wall crystallinity.

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

• providing an acidic sol-gel micellar mixture comprising a metal precursor, an interface modifier, a hydrotropic ion precursor, and a surfactant, wherein water is eliminated-or minimized to prevent the aggregation of metal oxide clusters;
• heating the acidic mixture at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to form a dried powder;
• and
• heating the dried powder at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to tune the structural properties of the mesoporous metal oxides;
• wherein the mesoporous metal oxides have nano-sized wall crystallinity.