Progresses in Template Synthesis and Applications of Hollow Materials

Hollow materials are emerging as functional materials with unique characteristics in tunable cavity,high specific active surface area and enhanced mass transfer. Janus hollow materials are readily derived upon spatial compartmentalization of multiple components thus functions. Template synthesis is highly efficient to synthesize the hollow materials with tunable microstructure and composition. In the first part of this review,recent advances in the template synthesis of the representative hollow materials are concisely summarized. In the second part,typical applications of the hollow materials in catalysis, energy storage, oil/water separation and drug delivery are introduced. This review will end with a perspective to call for more efforts in the development of new methods toward high performance hollow materials with tailored properties.