The fourth solid superacid following Fe
2O
3, TiO
2 and ZrO
2 was synthesized by the addition of sulfate ion to HfO
2. The catalyst, which was obtained by exposing Hf(OH)
4, prepared by the hydrolysis of HfCl
4, to 2N H
2SO
4 and then calcining in air at 600–800 °C, was active for the skeletal isomerization of butane to isobutane.