Preparation and characterization of mesoporous MO2 (MÂ =Â Ti, Ce, Zr, and Hf) nanopowders by a modified sol-gel method

Mesoporous high surface area and high crystallinity MO2 powders (TiO2, CeO2, ZrO2, and HfO2) were synthesized by a modified sol-gel method using laurylamine hydrochloride, metal alkoxide and acetylacetone. The prepared MO2 powders, characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption isotherm, SEM, TEM, and SAED, had crystalline size of about 5-15 nm, specific surface area of 44-80 m2/g, and a narrow pore size distribution with average pore diameter of about 3-6 nm. This synthesis method provides a new simple route to fabricate nanostructured materials under mild conditions.