This technology relates to supports for catalytically active material, particularly for CO oxidation and lean burn deNOx control. There is a need for synthesis routes for supported catalyst that allow for formation of patterned and interconnected porous supports with catalyst nanoparticles of controllable size distributed throughout the support structure. The present technology includes a catalyst composite where both the support and the catalyst are synthesized using the same soft template, at room temperature. One feature of the present technology is the distribution of the catalyst metal nanoparticles uniformly throughout the support with minimal agglomeration and pore blocking.