Synthesis of Nanoscopic Optical Fibers Using Lipid Membranes as Templates

High‐aspect‐ratio, monocrystalline cadmium chloride nanowires doped with fluorescent CdS nanoparticles have been synthesized using planar lipid membranes as templates (see picture). Cd2+ ions bound to the lipid bilayers (a) are released at low pH to the nanometer‐sized, interlamellar water films (b) where the sudden increase in concentration leads to the formation of nanowires (c) that show excellent light‐waveguiding properties.