Resumen del autor, extraído del trabajo. We report about new aromatization catalysts, composed of nanocrystalline transition metal oxide particles, e.g. zirconia, titania, hafnium oxide, embedded in a matrix of amorphous carbon. Bulk and surface properties of the new materials have been investigated by spectroscopic methods. The results will be presented and mechanistic aspects of n-alkane aromatization will be discussed.