Voids and Yolk–Shells from Crystals That Coat Particles

We investigate curvature-driven core-shell morphology that emerges when polycrystalline shells of ZIF-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework coordination polymer) grow on colloid-sized particles. In early growth stages, the shell is continuous, but it transforms to yolk-shell, with neither sacrificial template nor core etching, because of geometrical frustration. A design rule is developed regarding how local surface curvature matters. Comparing shells grown on cubic, rod-like, and peanut-shaped hematite core particles, we validate the argument.