Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing finely divided high-surface-area materials coated with inorganic nanoparticles, and also the materials produced thereby, in particular catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis. The process according to the invention is characterized in that the finely divided high-surface-area material is contacted with a suspension of inorganic nanoparticles in a liquid medium in which the nanoparticles are bound to biopolymers, and in that, if appropriate, the catalytically coated finely divided high-surface-area material is dried.

Abstract: A substrate with spatially selective metal coating is produced by first applying biological templates onto parts of the surface of the substrate and applying a metal coating only once the biological templates have been deposited on the substrate. The biological templates are for example surface layer proteins (S-layer) and the metal coating is a noble metal coating. The substrates with spatially selective metal coating are used in catalysts or solid-state electrolyte sensors.