Patent ID: 7820583

Claim:
A nanocomposite particle comprising: (a) titanium dioxide nanoparticles, wherein the titanium dioxide nanoparticles have an average size of less than about 50 nm and a surface area of greater than or equal to about 20 m 2 /g; (b) metal oxide nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of zirconium dioxide, cerium dioxide, tin oxide, niobium oxide and mixtures and combinations thereof, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles have an average size of less than about 50 nm; and (c) a surface stabilizer selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, phosphorus pentoxide, aluminum silicate and aluminum phosphate, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are formed by hydrothermally treating an amorphous hydrated metal oxide in the presence of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and wherein the nanocomposite particle has an average pore volume between the titanium dioxide nanoparticles and the metal oxide nanoparticles of greater than about 0.3 cm 3 /g.