TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The metal is a transition metal, precious metal or rare earth metal. The metal is selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Ga, In, Ti, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, La, Ce, Gd. The porous silica matrix has pores of 1-5 nm diameter; additionally has pores of 10-100 nm diameter. The particles of the metal or of the oxide of the metal have a mean particle diameter of 2-10 nm. The particles of the metal or of the oxide of the metal are substantially monodispersed in particle size. The composite substance is in particulate form. The particles of the substance have an aspect ratio of at least 10. The oxide of the metal is copper oxide and the composite substance is in the form of rod-like structures. The rod-like structures have a diameter of 10-100 nm. The oxide of the metal is nickel oxide or iron oxide and where the substance has a sheet like structure, thus, if particles of the substance have an aspect ratio of at least about 10, the aspect ratio refers to a ratio of length to thickness of sheets of the sheet like structure. Each particle of the composite substance comprises several particles of the oxide of the metal dispersed in it. On average, each particle of the composite substance comprises at least 100 particles of the oxide of the metal dispersed in it. The composite substance has Brauaner, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area of at least 200 m2/g. The pores extend continuously from an outside surface of the silica matrix to outside surface of the metal or oxide of the metal so as to allow a reactant to penetrate to the surface of the oxide of the metal.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The alkylammonium salt comprises 8-18C alkyl attached directly to a quaternary nitrogen atom or 8-18C alkyltri(1-4C alkyl) ammonium salt (preferably cetyltrimethylammonium salt). The alkoxysilane is a trialkoxysilane or tetraalkoxysilane (preferably tetraethoxysilane or tetramethoxysilane). Preferred Method: The solution of first step is an aqueous solution; has a ratio of the soluble salt of the metal to the alkylammonium salt of 1:10-10:1. The second step involves: adding to the solution of first step a water soluble hydroxide salt. The method (M1) involves: separating the precipitated hydroxide of the metal from the solution; and additionally involves: i) reducing the oxide of the metal within the porous silica matrix so as to form particles of the metal within the porous silica matrix; exposing the oxide of the metal to hydrogen. The third step involves: resuspending the hydroxide of the metal in an aqueous liquid; and further involves adjusting the suspension of the resuspended hydroxide of the metal to a pH greater than 7. The alkoxysilane is added at a molar ratio to the metal hydroxide of 1:8-8:1; is added in alcoholic solution; is added at a rate of 1-100 mu mol/second. The fourth step additionally involves: stirring the suspension following addition of the alkoxysilane, where the stirring is continued for at least 10 hours. The method involves after fourth step, separating the particles formed in fourth step from the suspension and washing the particles with an aqueous liquid. The fifth step involves heating the particles for at least 1 hour at 400-700 degrees C. The oxide of the metal, or, in the event that step i) is conducted, the metal, is catalytically active. The oxide of the metal, or, in the event that step i) is conducted, the metal, is catalytically active for a reaction selected from methanol synthesis and reforming, steam and CO2 reforming of methane, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, CO oxidation, catalytic biomass tar decomposition, SO2 oxidation, NO reduction and methane oxidation. The oxide of the metal is usable as an oxidant in chemical looping combustion. The method (M1) involves: a1) preparing an aqueous solution comprising a soluble salt of the metal and a cetyltrimethylammonium salt; b1) adding to the solution from step a1) a sodium hydroxide solution so as to precipitate a hydroxide of the metal from the solution; b1') separating the precipitated hydroxide of the metal from the solution; c1) resuspending the hydroxide of the metal in an aqueous liquid and adjusting the resulting suspension to a pH greater than 7; d1) adding to the suspension, with stirring, an alcoholic solution of tetraalkoxysilane, so as to form particles comprising the hydroxide of the metal at least partially coated with silica; d1') separating the particles formed in step d1) from the suspension and washing the particles with water; and e1) calcining the particles obtained in step d1) at 500 degrees C for 1-5 hours so as to produce the composite substance. The sufficient temperature is at least 500 degrees C. The metal is copper. The method (M2) is chemical looping combustion.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The surfactant is a soluble polymer surfactant, polyelectrolyte or alkylammonium salt, tetraalkylammonium salt. The soluble polymer surfactant is a carbohydrate polymer, polyaniline, polyimide, polyvinylpyrrolidone or polyvinyl alcohol. The polyelectrolyte is a polypeptide, glycosaminoglycan, DNA or polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.