Disclosed is a method of making a pyrochlore comprising, obtaining a solution comprising a solvent and a metal precursor or salt thereof capable of forming a pyrochlore, wherein the metal precursor or salt thereof is dissolved in the solvent, subjecting the solution to a drying step to obtain a non-gelled or non-polymerized pyrochlore precursor material in powdered form, and subjecting the pyrochlore precursor material to a calcination step to obtain a pyrochlore.