Hollow mesoporous silica fibers: tubules by coils of tubules

Abstract

Hollow mesoporous silica fibers have been synthesized under acidic conditions in a two-phase static system. The fibers always have a circular internal architecture with hexagonally arranged channels running perpendicularly around the fiber axis. The inner radius of the hollow fibers is variable and the fibers are connected with solid fibers without inner cavity. This points to a novel formation mechanism for the central cavity of the hollow fibers.