Cu2O/Au@HKUST-1 hollow nanostructures: One-pot synthesis and catalysis evaluation

Cu2O/[email protected] hollow nanostructures were prepared using a simple one-pot strategy. With the presence of trimesic acid (H3btc) in the mixture solution of N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) and ethanol, Cu2O reduces AuCl4− forming Au nanoparticles which were subsequently encapsulated by HKUST-1 crystals constructed by utilizing the Cu2+ cations released from the oxidative dissolution of the Cu2O and H3btc. This strategy well embedded Au nanoparticles in metal-organic frameworks hollow nanostructures without using any additional capping agent or complicated procedure. In addition, Au nanoparticles were verified to be the key role of Cu2O/[email protected] hollow nanostructures in the catalysis on CO oxidation.