Preparation and Characterization of Novel Mesoporous Lanthanide–Transition Metal Mixed Oxides

We report a cationic supramolecular templating route to prepare thermally stable mixed oxides of lanthanides–transition metals, and characterization of such materials. The materials have three‐dimensional wormhole‐like mesoporosity with a partly crystalline lanthanide phase but an X‐ray diffraction‐invisible transition metal oxide phase that are probably finely dispersed as <3 nm crystallites. The materials had high surface areas with a narrow pore‐size distribution in the mesoporous range after calcination up to 973 K. The materials were active for volatile organic compounds (toluene) removal at room temperature, with mesoporous ceria–titania showing the highest activity. These results suggest that these mesoporous mixed oxides are promising for air‐purification applications.