there are many methods for synthesis of catalysts such as nitrate, co-precipitation, .... is the change of the synthesis method for an oxide affect and change it's band gap?
Yes it will, in some oxides there are several phases that may be formed during certain conditions which may be favoured in some synthetic methods compared with some others, this can have influence in the final material and its band gap properties
If a significant amount of dopants are introduced into the oxide during synthesis, it will create doping state, even doping band in the gap, which usually reduced the band gap of oxide.