In this study we employed a facile impregnation method-based on the application of capillary forces, evaporation of solvent and subsequent thermal reduction under H 2 -for the synthesis of various metal/ mesoporous silica composites. Using this approach we obtained highly dispersed Ag nanoparticles within BCC (body-centered cubic) mesoporous silica, interconnected Pd networks within the BCC mesoporous silica, and Ag and Pd nanowires within hexagonal cylindrical channels, all of which we characterized using small-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, N 2 sorption isotherms, and powder X-ray diffraction. Notably, this paper reports the first example of such a Pd metal replica structure prepared through use of the unique BCC-type mesoporous silica as a hard template and subsequent etching in HF (aq) . Finally, we report the successful fabrication of a highly disperse Ag/silica complex prepared through a convenient one-step synthesis.