A facile one-pot evaporation induced self-assembly synthesis of ordered mesoporous alumina (OMA) was explored by using Pluronic® F127 nonionic triblock copolymer (structure directing agent), aluminum alkoxide (alumina precursor), nitric acid (pH adjustor) and ethanol (solvent).A series of OMA samples with highly ordered cage-like structures, large spherical mesopores, high specific surface area and large pore volume were obtained and studied by nitrogen adsorption, small angle X-ray scattering, and transmission electron microscopy.Graphical abstractHighlights► Cage-like ordered mesoporous alumina was synthesized using aluminum isopropoxide and Pluronic F127 polymer in HNO3–ethanol–water. ► Cage-like mesostructures of alumina exhibited higher surface area than its channel-like counterpart. ► The surface area of mesoporous alumina decreases with decreasing volume of ethanol.