TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The heating step is performed until the formation of a faceted precipitate. The method (I) comprises: preparing the aqueous solution with urea (1-20 wt/wt.%), metal salts (1-10 wt/wt.%) and poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (0.05-20 wt/wt.%), where the percentages refer to the fraction of the component in water; correcting the pH until complete solubilization of the mixture; heating the mixture in a closed recipient at a temperature of 70-140 degrees C until the formation of a precipitate; cooling of the reaction mixture; and washing, dry and calcining the precipitate until the formation of the metal oxide. The heating step is performed for 18-30 (preferably 24) hours to obtain the precipitate. The step of heating the mixture in the closed reactor was performed at a temperature of 80-130 degrees C, preferably 90-120 degrees C. The method comprises adding at least one promoter comprising yttrium or zirconium. Preferred Components: The metal salt is zinc, cerium, aluminum, yttrium, copper, lanthanum, gallium, indium, tin, iron, titanium, zirconium, chromium, praseodymium, niobium and/or neodymium. The metal salt is nitrate or acetate. The metal oxide support having surface area support is greater than 10 m2.g-1. The composite catalyst comprises zinc oxide which has morphology with several faceted nano sheets. The nano sheet has a thickness of 5-50 nm, preferably 20-40 nm. The composite catalyst is active at temperature of 180-220 degrees C, preferably 160 degrees C. The composite catalyst produces less than 0.5% of carbon monoxide in the reaction of methanol steam. The active metal is palladium, zinc, copper, gold and/or platinum. The support is zinc oxide, cerium oxide (both preferred), yttrium oxide, aluminum trioxide, lanthanum oxide, gallium oxide, indium oxide, tin dioxide, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide- praseodymium oxide and/or cerium oxide. The support catalyst is palladium-zinc-yttrium/cerium oxide, palladium- yttrium/zinc oxide, palladium/zinc oxide, copper-zinc/yttrium cerium oxide, copper/yttrium zinc oxide, copper/zinc oxide, copper-zirconium/yttrium cerium oxide, copper-cerium-zirconium, copper-cerium-zinc, copper-cerium-yttrium-zinc, copper-cerium-yttrium-zirconium, copper-cerium-lanthanum-zirconium, copper-cerium-lanthanum-zirconium, copper-cerium-praseodymium- zinc or copper-cerium- praseodymium-zirconium. The catalyst comprises copper or gold. The metal or nano particulate metals have a size of 2-40 nm, though gold metal particles have a size of 2-5 nm and copper metal particles have 2-20 nm.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block poly(ethylene glycol) has a concentration of 0.1-3 (preferably 2) wt/wt.%. The preparation reactor is made of glass or polytetrafluoroethylene. EXAMPLE - Zinc acetate (1.1 g) and Pluronic P123 (RTM: Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)- block-poly(ethylene glycol) (1.8 g) were added to water (100 ml). The reaction mixture was placed in an ultrasonic bath until complete homogenization. Acetic acid was added (if necessary) until the solution becomes clear and placed again in the ultrasonic. The reaction mixture was poured into Teflon (RTM: Polytetrafluoroethylene) flask. The flask was closed and the reaction mixture was heated to 90 degrees C for 24 hours to obtain precipitate. The precipitate was washed with distilled water during filtration process and calcined at 400 degrees C for 2 hours to obtain metal oxide catalyst support.