Facile Synthesis of Au or Ag Nanoparticles-Embedded Hollow Carbon Microspheres from Metal-Organic Framework Hybrids and Their Efficient Catalytic Activities

Au or Ag nanoparticles-embedded hollow carbon spheres, which display outstanding catalytic activity and excellent recyclability, are prepared by a one-step pyrolysis of metal-organic framework (MOF) hybrids consisting of polystyrene cores and MOF shells loaded with noble metal ions (polystyrene@ZIF-8/M(n+) ; M(n+) = Au(3+) or Ag(+) ).