US Patent 7211143 - Nanotube fabrication using nanowire template

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7211143.html

Besides carbon other inorganic nanotubes are gaining some interest, however manufacturing techniques are less well developed for non-carbon nanotubes. Some success has been achieved using porous substrates such as anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) to grow nanowires but removal of the AAO template can often cause unwanted agglomeration of the nanotubes. This patent from the University of California teaches using nanowires as a removable template for better results. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for fabricating a nanotube, comprising: forming a nanowire; depositing at least one sheath of material over said nanowire; and removing said nanowire; wherein said remaining sheath material comprises said nanotube; and wherein said nanotube is formed as an epitaxial casting.