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The morphology controlled growth of large area ordered porous film presents a number of challenges. This paper reports work on a universal route, 'solution dipping template strategy', for such structured films. The morphologies of the porous film can easily be controlled by concentration of the precursor solution and treatment conditions. By decreasing concentration from a high to a very low level, nanostructured complex (pore–hole, and pore–particle) arrays, through pore arrays, and even ring arrays can, in turn, be acquired. The pore size is adjustable over a range up to two orders of magnitude using the diameter of latex spheres. This new synthesis route is universal and can be used for metals, semiconductors, and compounds on any substrate. Such structures may be useful in applications in energy storage or conversion, especially in next generation integrated nanophotonics devices, biomolecular labelling and identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]