The present invention includes a sol-gel supported catalyst for the dehydrogenation of lower alkanes, the catalyst comprising at least one active metal and at least one promoter metal attached to a sol-gel mixed oxide support. The sol-gel mixed oxide support arises from the polymerization of at least one precursor. The active metal and the promoter metal have been attached to the sol-gel mixed oxide support by the active metal and the promoter metal having been co-precipitated with the precursor of the sol-gel mixed oxide support. The invention also includes a method of making the above mentioned catalyst and a method of using the catalyst to dehydrogenate lower alkanes to produce lower alkenes.