Mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41 and its Ti-modified derivative have been synthesised in a mild alkali condition using cetylpyridinium bromide as template. The (001) surface of the MCM-41 particles shows a paintbrush-like morphology formed by bundles of silica nanotubes. The smallest silica form in the mesoporous phases, single silica nanotubes, was also observed on the surface.