A process of preparing a plurality of nanostructures, each being composed of at least one target material is disclosed. The process comprises sequentially electrodepositing a first material and the at least one target material into pores of a porous membrane having a nanometric pore diameter, to thereby obtain within the pores nanometric rods, each of the nanometric rods having a plurality of segments where any two adjacent segments are made of different materials. The process further comprises and etching the membrane and the first material, thereby obtaining the nanostructures.