Core-Shell Catalysts of Metal Nanoparticle Core and Metal-Organic Framework Shell

Encapsulating well-defined nanoparticle catalysts into porous materials to form a core-shell nanostructure can enhance the durability, selectivity, or reactivity of the catalysts and even provide additional functionalities to the catalysts. Using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as the encapsulating porous materials has drawn great interest recently because MOFs, as a class of crystalline nanoporous materials, have well-defined pore structures and unique chemical properties. Also, the structures and properties of MOFs are tunable. In this perspective review, we examine recent progress in the development of synthetic methods for metal@MOF core-shell nanostructures as catalysts. Potential directions in the field are also discussed.