Preparation and characterization of mesoporous MO2 (M = 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.