A facile method for forming porous anodic alumina membranes based on one-step anodising in sulphuric acid is reported. A flat and well-ordered basal surface incorporating uniformly sized pores was obtained without the need for electrolytic polishing. Excess metallic aluminium was removed from the film using a saturated solution of iodine in methanol. The high-temperature properties of the oxide ceramic membranes were investigated using thermal analysis, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. At 970 degrees C the amorphous alumina crystallises to gamma-Al2O3 with the release of SO2 and O-2. Finally at 1228 degrees C the alumina converts into the thermodynamically preferred phase, corundum. The pore structure of the oxide membrane was found to be very stable at elevated temperatures, suggesting applications in materials synthesis, catalysis and gas separation. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.