Porous heterostructured clays - PCHs - are lamellar solids with acid and adsorptive properties serving as catalysts or catalyst supports formed on a template mechanism. This work provides information about porous heterostructured clays. Historical aspects of the development of lamellar solids to porous heterostructured clays will be discussed, and detailed information on synthesis and applicationaspects, as well as on the influence of eachreagent on these materials and the characterization techniques used to prove their formation will be given.