Cubic mesoporous silicas having substantially cylindrical morphology may be prepared using a combination of a first structure-directing template, such as tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide; water; a second structure-directing template, such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; a morphology-directing template, such as a poloxamer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 Daltons; and a silica source; in the substantial absence of an alcohol solvent. The resulting materials may exhibit a three-dimensional channel structure, a length from 3 to 10 micrometers and a width from 300 nanometers to 10 micrometers, resulting in an aspect ratio from 1 to 300. Further characterization may include a surface area from 1300 to 1500 square meters per gram, an average pore diameter from 20 to 26 angstroms, and an average pore volume ranging from 0.7 to 1.1 cubic centimeters per gram. These materials are useful for molecular transport and release applications in a variety of uses, including, for example, membrane separations, metal incorporation, electronic devices, drug delivery, and adsorption.