1,4-Phenylene silica nanotubes were prepared using a chiral anionic gelator 12K with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (TEAPS) as a co-structure-directing agent, and 1,4-bistriethoxybenzene (BTEB) as precursor When sol-gel transcription process was carried Out in pure water. left-handed coiled nanotubes. double helical nanotubes, and triple helical nanotubes were obtained When sol-gel transcription process was carried Out in mixtures of water and ethanol, hybrid silica nanotubes formed by left-handed coiled nanoribbons were obtained With increasing the volume ratios of ethanol to water, mixtures of left-handed coiled tubular ribbons and tube-in-tube nanostructures were obtained. Circular dichroism (CD) spectrum indicates at least some of the aromatic rings within the walls pack in chiral. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved