An oxide catalyst is formed by vaporizing a quantity of at least one precursor material or catalyst material thereby forming a vapor cloud. The vapor cloud is quenches forming precipitate nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are impregnated onto supports. The supports are able to be used in existing heterogeneous catalyst systems. A system for forming oxide catalysts comprises components for vaporizing a quantity of at least one precursor material or at least one catalyst material, quenching the resulting vapor cloud and forming precipitate nanoparticles. The system further comprises components for supports with the nanoparticles.