Vapor-Phase Synthesis of Mesostructured Silica Nanofibers Inside Porous Alumina Membranes

Abstract

Mesoporous silica nanofibers with tunable mesostructure are prepared in anodic aluminum oxide cationic-surfactant dual templates using vapor-deposition hydrolysis, which has merits in mass production. The microstructure of the mesoporous silica nanofibers changes from parallel to helical alignment as the alkyl-chain length of the surfactant is decreased.