High-surface　area　and　well-ordered　mesoporous　Cr-incorporated　SBA-15　(Cr-SBA-15)　and　SBA-15-supported　chromia　(CrOx/SBA-15)　with　Cr　surface　density　=0.05-1.11　Cr-atom/nm(2)　have　been　prepared,　respectively,　using　the　one-step　synthesis　and　incipient　wetness　impregnation　method,　and　characterized　by　AAS,　XRD,　BET,　ESEM,　TEM,　XPS,　laser　Raman,　UV-Vis,　FT-IR,　and　H-2-TPR.　It　is　observed　that　the　Cr-SBA-15　and　CrQ(x)/SBA-15　samples　showed　an　evolution　of　surface　morphology　from　long　chain-shaped　to　short　rod-like　and　further　to　an　irregularly　spherical　architecture　at　elevated　Cr　content,　which　might　arise　from　the　interaction　of　Cr　ions　or　CrOx　domains　with　SBA-15.　There　were　co-presence　of　tetrahedrally　coordinated　mono-　and　poly-chromate　(Cr6+)　as　well　as　octahedrally　coordinated　Cr3+　species　in　Cr-SBA-15　and　CrOx/SBA-15,　with　the　Cr6+　species　being　dominant　at　Cr　surface　density　＜=　0.22　Cr-atom/nm(2)　in　Cr-SBA-15　and　Cr　＜=　0.54　Cr-atom/nm(2)　in　CrOx/SBA15,　whereas　the　amount　of　the　Cr3+　species　increased　markedly　at　Cr　surface　density　＞=　0.53　Cr-atom/nm(2)　due　to　the　formation　of　crystal　Cr2O3　phase.　Maximal　Cr　incorporation　into　Cr-SBA-15　and　one　monolayer　surface　CrOx　coverage　on　CrOx/SBA-15　occurred　at　Cr　surface　density　＜0.53　Cr-atom/nm(2)　and　＜1.11　Cr-atom/nm(2),　respectively.　The　CrOx/SBA-15　samples　exhibited　better　reducibility　than　the　Cr-SBA-15　samples,　with　the　best　reducibility　exhibited　at　Cr　surface　densities　of　0.54　and　0.12　Cr-atom/mm(2),　respectively.　(c)　2007　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.