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

Abstract Cu 2 O/Au@HKUST-1 hollow nanostructures were prepared using a simple one-pot strategy. With the presence of trimesic acid (H 3 btc) in the mixture solution of N, N -dimethylacetamide (DMA) and ethanol, Cu 2 O reduces AuCl 4 − forming Au nanoparticles which were subsequently encapsulated by HKUST-1 crystals constructed by utilizing the Cu 2+ cations released from the oxidative dissolution of the Cu 2 O and H 3 btc. 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 Cu 2 O/Au@HKUST-1 hollow nanostructures in the catalysis on CO oxidation.