Hollow Single-Crystal Spinel Nanocubes: The Case of Zinc Cobalt Oxide Grown by a Unique Kirkendall Effect

Small hollow nanocubes of the ternary spinel Zn x Co 1- x Co 2O 4 of ca. 18 nm dimension were prepared via a facile hydrothermal route. A growth mechanism is suggested in which solid single-crystal Co 3O 4 nanocubes are gradually converted to hollow single-crystal Zn x Co 1- x Co 2O 4 nanocubes with preservation of the spinel framework through differential diffusion of Zn (2+) and Co (2+) ions. With the cation exchange, the chemical composition and thus physical properties can be tailored.