Supported gold nanoparticles rare earth (europium, dysprosium, samarium oxide, neodymium, gadolinium oxide and lanthanum oxide) materials were prepared using precipitation-deposition/co-precipitation methods. The techniques employed for the characterization of these materials were ICP-MS, TEM, XRD, BET, and XAS. An L-3-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic measurements were carried out over a series of rare earth materials containing gold nanoparticles. The size of gold nanoparticles varied in the range of similar to 2 to 6 nm in the Eu/Dy/Sm/Nd/Gd/La materials. These materials possess surface areas ranging from 29 to 41 m(2)/g with the high phase purity and crystallinity of the support (Eu/Dy/Sm/Nd/Gd/La) materials. An X-ray absorption fine structure (XANES, EXAFS) technique was used in obtaining critical information about the atomic distances, bonding and neighbouring environment for gold atoms in the rare earth Eu/Dy/Sm/Nd/Gd/La oxide materials for understanding the typical characteristics and structure of gold nanoparticles in these materials. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.