Fabrication of a composite structure of three-dimensional macroporous silica and carbon nanofilaments

We explored the possibility of incorporating carbon nanotubes in a patterned and macroporous silica structure replicated from a thin polystyrene template. A V-shaped thin, vertical channel was constructed and successfully used to assemble 10.06-μm polystyrene spheres into a dense three-dimensionally ordered template of uniform thickness. Infiltration of a single Co/silica precursor sol into the template followed by thermal treatments in vacuum and H₂ produced three-dimensionally ordered silica pores with embedded Co nanoparticles. Wormlike carbon nanofilaments of 50-120 nm in diameter were grown on the inner surface of silica pores with plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.