Templated Surface Sol–Gel Synthesis of SiO2 Nanotubes and SiO2‐Insulated Metal Nanowires

Abstract
Free‐standing SiO2 nanotubes have been synthesized by surface sol–gel replication of the pores of alumina membranes. The nanotubes are very flexible (as shown in the Figure) and their walls are smooth and uniformly thick along their length. SiO2‐insulated nanowires were also grown, by electroplating gold inside the SiO2‐coated pores of the membrane, and their IV characteristics were examined.