A general method for ultrathin 1D oxide nanomaterialsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Details for synthesis and characterizations, supporting TEM images of as-prepared CeO2 nanostructures under different experimental conditions, XRD patterns for the other ultrathin oxides. See DOI: 10.1039/c7nr03659k

By utilizing the interaction between inorganic species and organic surfactants, the ordered layered mesostructures were generated for the synthesis of the one-dimensional oxide nanomaterials. The oxide nanomaterial products which evolved from the above layered structures were demonstrated as ultrathin (less than 2 nm) one-dimensional structures with superior catalytic performance. The synthetic method based on layered structures can be extended to prepare other one-dimensional oxide nanomaterials with the same ultrathin structures. A series of oxide ultrathin nanomaterials are prepared via a general method and the catalytic property is demonstrated in CeO 2 .