Selective ammoxidation catalysts for such reactions as conversion of toluene to benzonitrile or propylene to acrylonitrile were prepared by a sol-gel method from V 2 O 5, Sb 2 O 3 and high purity hydrogen peroxide. Preparation of new stabilized, oxide ion-conducting, bismuth vanadate phases by a microwave assisted method, fromV 2 O 5, Bi 2 O 3 and other solid oxides, was reported.