Mesoporous　activated　alumina　was　prepared　by　a　surfactant-templating　route　and　the　alumina　layers　were　deposited　on　FeCrAl　metallic　substrates　by　an　in　situ　hydrothermal　method.　The　phase　composition,　pore　structure　and　surface　morphology　of　activated　alumina　layers　were　studied　by　means　of　small　and　wide　angle　X-ray　diffraction,　nitrogen　adsorption　and　transmission　electron　microscopy,　as　well　as　field-emission　scanning　electron　microscopy.　The　resultant　activated　alumina　layers　possess　a　surface　area　and　a　pore　volume　much　higher　than　that　of　sol-gel-derived　alumina,　and　the　activated　alumina　layers　were　deposited　successfully　on　the　substrates　after　hydrothermal　reaction　and　heat　treatment.　(c)　2004　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.