Ordered　mesoporous　alumina　with　a　large　surface　area　was　successfully　synthesized　in　this　work.　Employing　P123　as　a　structure-directing　agent,　the　ordered　mesostructure　was　fabricated　only　when　the　molar　ratio　of　salicylic　acid　to　citric　acid　was　2,　and　the　large　surface　area　was　attributed　to　the　addition　of　salicylic　acid.　The　resulting　alumina　possesses　a　surface　area　of　520.65　m(2)　g(-1)　and　a　pore　volume　of　0.82　cm(3)　g(-1).　The　surface　area　is　still　300.20　m(2)　g(-1)　even　after　being　calcinated　at　800　degrees　C.　Crown　Copyright　(C)　2010　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　on　behalf　of　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.