Hollow Micro- and Nanomaterials: Synthesis and Applications

Abstract Hollow micro and nanostructures are of great interest in technology. This chapter is devoted to the progress made in the synthesis and applications of hollow micro and nanostructures over the past decade. It presents a comprehensive overview of synthetic strategies and applications for functional materials with hollow structures. These strategies are broadly categorized into four themes, namely conventional hard-templating and soft-templating methods, as well as newly emerging methods based on sacrificial templating and template-free synthesis. This chapter focuses on the fundamentals of each synthetic process for hollow micro and nanostructures, pointing out advantages and disadvantages where appropriate. Potential applications of hollow micro and nanostructures in lithium batteries, catalysis, and sensors are also reviewed.