La-doped mesoporous SrTiO3 (LMST) was prepared first time via sol-gel combustion.
Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer was used as a cheap templating agent.
Citric acid as a complexing agent enhanced the purity and crystallinity of SrTiO3.
The textural properties of LMST were improved by increasing the La doping amount.
Mesopore formation was explained by a combined soft- and hard-templating route.