Transport of Reactants in Ultrathin Channels during the Etching Reaction

Abstract

By selective acid leaching, silica nanotubes were prepared from the natural mineral chrysotile asbestos. These one-dimensional tube actually represent a convolution of twodimensional layers, and the subsequent stacking the tubes into a hexagonal assembly generates three-dimensional body. Made materials are acid-and heat-resistant and can be used as feedstock in the manufacture of filters, or as matrices for the synthesis of nanomaterials.