Synthesis of catalytic materials on multiple length scales: from mesoporous to macroporous bulk mixed metal oxides for selective oxidation of hydrocarbons

A short review is provided of the principles guiding the synthesis of mesoporous and macroporous bulk mixed metal oxides on multiple length scales in the presence of surfactant mesophases and colloidal arrays of monodisperse spheres, respectively. Emerging catalytic applications of these novel bulk metal oxide phases in selective oxidation of hydrocarbons are described and discussed.