Application of the sol-gel method and the self-organized liquid crystal nanophases or microemulsions as pore templates to obtain hybrid thin films, powders and monoliths of a target size, shape and composition and the ordered or disordered structures in nanometer scales are demonstrated. The effect of selected process variables on the structural and functional properties of materials is discussed. The materials obtained appear to be very effective catalysts and/or adsorbents and hence most suitable to be used in the modern integrated process devices.