A method for the production of porous materials based on oxides of titanium and/or vanadium, in particular a method for the production of particles of oxides of titanium and/or vanadium, by means of the template process (template synthesis), characterised in that (a) initially in a first method step titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 nanoparticles) and/or vanadium oxide nanoparticles (V 2 O 5 nanoparticles) or else titanium oxide/vanadium oxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 /V 2 O 5 nanoparticles) are introduced into the pores of a porous, three-dimensional matrix material ("exotemplate"), wherein the nanoparticles have particle sizes in the range of 0.1 nm to 2000 nm and wherein particulate activated carbon is used as the porous, three-dimensional matrix material, wherein the surface of the matrix material is modified, wherein the surface modification occurs by means of oxidative or reductive treatment of the matrix material, wherein the surface of the matrix material is made hydrophilic or hydrophobic, wherein the hydrophilic finishing of the matrix material is carried out by oxidative chemical treatment of the matrix material with at least one oxidising agent, selected from nitric acid, peroxides and peracids and mixtures or combinations thereof, wherein attachment of hydrophilic groups, selected from OH groups and/or oxo groups, occurs or wherein the hydrophobic finishing of the matrix material is carried out by reductive treatment of the matrix material in the presence of at least one reducing agent in the form of hydrogen; and (b) in that then in a second method step, the matrix material laden with the nanoparticles is subjected to thermal treatment for the purposes of at least partial, preferably for the purposes of at least substantially complete, removal of the matrix material. (a) initially in a first method step titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 nanoparticles) and/or vanadium oxide nanoparticles (V 2 O 5 nanoparticles) or else titanium oxide/vanadium oxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 /V 2 O 5 nanoparticles) are introduced into the pores of a porous, three-dimensional matrix material ("exotemplate"), wherein the nanoparticles have particle sizes in the range of 0.1 nm to 2000 nm and wherein particulate activated carbon is used as the porous, three-dimensional matrix material, wherein the surface of the matrix material is modified, wherein the surface modification occurs by means of oxidative or reductive treatment of the matrix material, wherein the surface of the matrix material is made hydrophilic or hydrophobic, wherein the hydrophilic finishing of the matrix material is carried out by oxidative chemical treatment of the matrix material with at least one oxidising agent, selected from nitric acid, peroxides and peracids and mixtures or combinations thereof, wherein attachment of hydrophilic groups, selected from OH groups and/or oxo groups, occurs or wherein the hydrophobic finishing of the matrix material is carried out by reductive treatment of the matrix material in the presence of at least one reducing agent in the form of hydrogen; and (b) in that then in a second method step, the matrix material laden with the nanoparticles is subjected to thermal treatment for the purposes of at least partial, preferably for the purposes of at least substantially complete, removal of the matrix material.