Highly　thermally　stable　lanthanum-doped　ordered　mesoporous　alumina　has　been　prepared　in　a　sol-gel　system　with　salicylic　acid　and　citric　acid　as　interfacial　protectors.　When　the　molar　ratio　of　alumina　to　lanthanum　is　25.5,　most　La　3+　ions　in　the　resulting　alumina　structure　showed　tetracoordination.　Moreover,　the　as-obtained　sample　exhibits　a　surface　area　of　305　m2　g-1　when　calcined　at　400　°C　and　can　maintain　an　ordered　mesostructure　with　a　high　surface　area　of　205　m2　g-1　even　when　treated　at　1000　°C,　demonstrating　its　high　thermal　stability.　©　2011　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.