Oxide nanotubes prepared using carbon nanotubes as templates

Hollow nanotubes of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, V₂O₅, and MoO₃ have been prepared using carbon nanotubes as templates. The procedure involves coating the carbon nanotubes with tetraethylorthosilicate, aluminum isopropoxide, or vanadium pentoxide gel, followed by calcination and heating at higher temperatures in air to oxidize the carbon. SiO₂ nanotubes containing transition metal ions have been prepared by this procedure since such materials may be of use in catalysis.