A process for preparing a mesoporous material, e.g., transition metal oxide, sulfide, selenide or telluride, Lanthanide metal oxide, sulfide, selenide or telluride, a post-transition metal oxide, sulfide, selenide or telluride, and metalloid oxide, sulfide, selenide or telluride. The process comprises providing a micellar solution comprising a metal precursor, an interface modifier, a hydrotropic or lyotropic ion precursor, and a surfactant; and heating the micellar solution at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to form the mesoporous material. A mesoporous material prepared by the above process. A method of controlling nano-sized wall crystallinity and mesoporosity in mesoporous materials. The method comprises providing a micellar solution comprising a metal precursor, an interface modifier, a hydrotropic or lyotropic ion precursor, and a surfactant; and heating the micellar solution at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to control nano-sized wall crystallinity and mesoporosity in the mesoporous materials. Mesoporous materials and a method of tuning structural properties of mesoporous materials.