Co(OH)(2) nanodisks were synthesized using a surfactant lamellar mesophase as a soft template. From the Co(OH)(2) nanodisks, porous Co3O4 nanodisks could also be obtained after a heat treatment. Co(OH)(2) nanodisks were successfully converted to porous Co3O4 nanodisks via thermal oxidation. Using the Co3O4 nanodisks as a basic building block and sodium dodecyl sulfate as a structure-directing agent, the lamellar mesostructures could be formed. The lamellar ordering is expected to originate through cooperative interaction-induced self-assembly and evaporation-induced self-assembly. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.