Magnesium oxide (MgO) is an industrially important high-temperature material. It is widely employed as a catalyst support for carbon nanotubes since it possesses a high surface area, high temperature stability and easy removal by either acid or alkaline reagents.

Magnesium oxide (MgO) may be employed in the synthesis of bimetallic Co-Mo catalysts supported on different catalyst supports. These catalysts were used for single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) synthesis.
It may be employed as a phase stabilizer during the fabrication of porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP).
Lithium-doped magnesium oxide (Li/MgO) may be employed for the synthesis of ethylene and ethane. It may also be used as a catalyst in the preparation of (R)-phenyl carbonate.