title: Well-defined metal-organic framework hollow nanocages.
abstract: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have demonstrated great potentials in a variety of important applications. To enhance the inherent properties and endow materials with multifunctionality, the rational design and synthesis of MOFs with nanoscale porosity and hollow feature is highly desired and remains a great challenge. In this work, the formation of a series of well-defined MOF (MOF-5, Fe(II) -MOF-5, Fe(III) -MOF-5) hollow nanocages by a facile solvothermal method, without any additional supporting template is reported. A surface-energy-driven mechanism may be responsible for the formation of hollow nanocages. The addition of pre-synthesized poly(vinylpyrrolidone)- (PVP) capped noble-metal nanoparticles into the synthetic system of MOF hollow nanocages yields the yolk-shell noble metal@MOF nanostructures. The present strategy to fabricate hollow and yolk-shell nanostructures is expected to open up exciting opportunities for developing a novel class of inorganic-organic hybrid functional nanomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 (P. R. China).
authors.forename: Zhicheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yifeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaobin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jingchao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guolei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: catalysis; hollow nanostructures; metal-organic frameworks; noble metals; organic-inorganic hybrid composites