Barium sulfate with lamellar and tubular microstructure was developed through a surfactant templating route under different synthesis conditions. Lamellar barium sulfate was synthesized through direct combination of Ba2+ and SO42- in an aqueous solution containing sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). Agglomerate bariurn sulfate nanotubes were obtained by the reaction of Ba2+ and CaSO42- in the SDBS aqueous solution. Preparation of regular single barium sulfate nanotubes was achieved by the controlled hydrolysis of dimethyl sulfate in an aqueous solution containing Ba2+ and SDBS. As revealed by transmission electron microscopy characterization, the tube wall thickness was 7-8 nm, and the inner diameter was about 6 nm. When such mesostructured barium sulfate was loaded with VOSO4 and sulfuric acid (100%), it performed excellently in catalyzing oxidative conversion of methane to methanol using molecular oxygen. The conversion proceeded at a relatively lower temperature (under 250 degrees C) than over general solid catalysts. and the selectivity to methanol remained high when methane conversion increased to an acceptable level. When the reaction proceeded stably, the one-pass conversion of methane was about 30%, and the selectivity to methanol could reach 50%. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.