Novel nanoengineered catalysts for the high-temperature direct oxidation of methane to synthesis gas have been synthesized via a microemulsion-mediated sol-gel route. Through the addition of Pt-salts, catalysts with large surface areas, a well-controlled morphology and very homogeneous distributions of highly active Pt-nanoparticles in a hexaaluminate (BHA) matrix are obtained. The catalysts show syngas yields significantly exceeding the yields over conventional catalysts. Furthermore. excellent high-temperature stability of the materials is observed with no measurable deactivation or metal particle sintering over prolonged reactor operation at high-temperature reaction conditions. Overall, the materials seem highly promising candidates for syngas formation and hydrogen production from hydrocarbons. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.