Semiconductor nanotube formation by a two-step template process

Multistep template synthesis offers an easy and general route to complicated nanostructures. A two-step replication procedure is described that can be used to prepare nanotubes of titanium dioxide (see Figure) or other semiconducting materials. The requirements placed on the starting material, the synthesis route, and the TiO2 deposition mechanism are considered and filling of the tubes is briefly discussed.