Silica-modified titanium oxide (S-TIO2) powders that have an anatase structure were synthesized via the thermal decomposition of mixtures of titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TIP) and tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) in toluene at 300 degreesC. These S-TIO2 materials had high rutile-transformation temperatures and maintained large surface areas at elevated temperatures (550 degrees -1000 degreesC). For example, the product that was prepared from a 9:1 TIP:TMOS mixture transformed to rutile at similar to 1100 degreesC and possessed a surface area of 160 m(2)/g, even after calcination at 800 degreesC for 1 h.