Ordered mesoporous aluminum oxide films with a porosity range of 40-48% were synthesized by an evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process using surfactant templating. To investigate the role of the hydrolysis reaction in the formation of a mesoporous structure, the changes of pore structure properties according to a variation of aging time and water molar ratio were monitored. From the tendencies of pore structure properties, the optimized condition for a high porosity and a highly ordered pore structure in ordered mesoporous alumina film was determined. This alumina film maintained the mesoporous structure even though it annealed at high temperatures, up to 1200 degrees C. Therefore, the ordered mesoporous alumina films synthesized in this study could be applicable as a material used at high temperature. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.