Catalytic performance of binary nanostructured oxides has been evaluated in the gas-phase dehydration of glycerol, an environmental friendly reaction. SnO2-Mn2O3, SnO2-ZrO2, SnO2-TiO2, ZrO2-Mn2O3 nanocasted oxides, and a reference, NiO-Co3O4, were characterised by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, acid-base measurements, SEM-EDX, TPR, HTEM and XPS. Correlations among the catalyst's activity and the surface, textural, and acid-base properties of the nanocasted oxides were tentatively conducted in attempts to justify the catalytic results. Influences of nanoparticle or nanostructure structural properties on the catalytic activity have been investigated. The better activity of SnO2-TiO2 at 250 degrees C and a glycerol/water molar ratio of 0.25 was due to cooperativity of Sn4+ and Ti4+. The most important finding was that nanostructure features of the solid enhanced nanoparticle stability through the redox ability of the binary solid compared to conventional binary catalysts. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.