METAL OXIDE NANOTUBE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

A novel metal oxide nanotube made only of a metal oxide is produced by the use of a helical fiber (Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-239014). The metal oxide nanotube has a pore diameter distribution having two peak pore diameters in the ranges of 1-2 nm and 3-7 nm respectively, constitutes a double helix, takes the form of a hollow cylinder, and is made only of a metal oxide which may contain hydroxyl groups. The nanotube can be produced by a process comprising the step of dissolving a compound (1) represented by the general formula (1) and a compound (2) represented by the general formula (2): (1) (2) [wherein A and B may be the same or different from each other and are each a sugar residue; R is alkyl; and R<'> is hydrogen or alkyl] in water or a mixture of water and alcohol and allowing the resulting solution to stand; the step of adding a precursor of a metal oxide to the solution; the step of adding a catalyst for converting the precursor into a metal oxide; and the step of firing the gel formed in the preceding step. The nanotube exhibits an extremely high hydrogen occlusion capacity.