A seed-engineering approach toward a hollow nanoreactor suitable for the confined synthesis of less-noble Ni-based nanocrystals.

A hollow nanoreactor suitable for the cultivation of Ni-nanocrystals was developed through a distinct seed-engineering stratagem, which involved the assembly of a catalytically active Au/Pd-heterojunction-nanocrystal inside the hollow silica nanoshell. The resulting hollow nanoreactor demonstrated a targeted performance in the cavity-confined growth of the catalytic Ni nanocrystal.