Highly crystalline rutile with a specific surface area as high as 280 m(2) g(-1) and well-connected uniform mesoporosity has been synthesized by rigid templating using commercial, low-cost polyether block amide. This general, simple synthesis route for high surface-area mesoporous nanocrystalline oxides and nanocomposite membranes is important for catalysis, sensors, energy storage, solar cells, heavy metal removal and separations.