We have synthesized highly dispersed platinum (Pt) nanocatalyts supported on a structurally organized meso/nanoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) support possessing a hexagonal arrangement of pores using a highly viscous surfactant template separating nanoscopic bicontinuous channels of water and isooctane. The TiO2 support formed by hydrolysis and condensation of the isooctane-soluble precursor titanium isopropoxide (TIP), inherited the morphology of the surfactant template. Sequential reduction of a Pt salt in the aqueous channels during TiO2 synthesis forms Pt nanoparticles on the TiO2 pore surfaces, with negligible agglomeration. The catalytic activity of these nanocomposites for the carbon monoxide oxidation reaction over a wide temperature range is comparable to that of a commercial catalyst support with 4-fold larger specific surface area. This is caused by a decreased mass transfer resistance provided by the organization of the pores. Our simple synthesis strategy can be applied to a wide range of nanocomposite materials in macroscopic and thin film forms.

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