A novel method has been developed for the synthesis of catalysts applying chemical vapour deposition techniques. It comprises the catalytic conversion of a porous solid which acts as a reactant and a template. The catalyst increases the reactivity of the solid and enhances the rate of formation of the desired product. The results of applying this method for the synthesis of high surface area SiC will be highlighted. Activated carbon equipped with nickel is converted into SiC by reaction with hydrogen and silicon tetrachloride at 1380 K. Nickel catalyzes both the gasification (C(s)+2H(2)(g)-->CH4(g)) and the SiC formation via the CVD reaction : SiCl4(g)+CH4(g)-->SiC(s)+4HCl(g). Thus porous SiC is obtained with the same shape of the original activated carbon (extrudate) and possesses surface areas up to 80 m(2)/g.