used to collect the intermediates of silica nanowires. The
reaction rate was faster in the 1-propanol system than in the 1-
pentanol because the synthesis of hollow tadpole-like silica
nanomaterials can be finished within 1 h. This probably is due
to the steric effects in solvent alcohol. As the molecular weight
of the alcohols increases, the steric hindrance becomes
important. From these TEM images, the evolution process of
the products is clearly revealed