Free-standing Pd nanowires of controlled size are synthesized by these authors via chemical vapor infiltration of an organometallic precursor into mesoporous silicate. The thus generated Pd nanowires can be isolated by addition of HF to remove the silicate matrix. Wires ranging from 3.7-8.8 nm in diameter and up to several hundred nanometers in length can be obtained (see Figure), depending on the silica template used. [GRAPHICS]