The binary system CeO2-ZrO2 is thermally stable and has superior reduction-oxidation properties. It has been commonly used in the three-way catalytic converters for automobiles. In this work, an inorganic biomorphic porous CexZr1-xO2 fibrous network Was Successfully synthesized by using the egg shell membrane (ESM) as templates, and its morphology was a perfect replica of the original ESM. The synthesis involved a simple infiltration and calcination process. A fresh ESM was peeled from a chicken egg shell. It was soaked in a Ce(NO3)(3) and Zr(NO3)(4) Mixture before it was calcined at 700 degrees C in ambient environment. The fibers in the biomorphic network had diameter ranged from 1 to 4 mu m, and they were composed of CexZr1-xO2 nanocrystallites having an average grain size of similar to 10 nm. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.