Formation of Huge Length Silica Nanotubes by a Templating Mechanism in the Laurylamine/Tetraethoxysilane System

Abstract

Nanosize bundles of huge lengths of silica-nanotubes were synthesized by a surfactant-assisted templating mechanism in a laurylamine hydrochloride/tetraethoxysilane system with the aid of trimethylsilylation treatment. The transmission electron microscopy images confirmed the formation of the bundles of silica nanotubes mentioned above. The trimethylsilylation treatment prevents the condensation reaction of silanol groups between different bundles, provides very long bundles of nanosize tubules, and also removes surfactants from the inside of silica nanotubes without calcination.