ZnO@ZIF Core–Shell Single Crystals Formed by in Situ Conversion of ZnO Particles

Abstract

We herein report the formation of two types of ZnO@ZIF core–shell single crystals through the in situ conversion of ZnO particles. The hybrid core–shell single crystals of ZIF‐8 and ZIF‐71 were obtained by treating 95 nm ZnO particles with 2‐methylimidazole and 4,5‐dichloroimidazole, respectively, under the optimized experimental conditions. The ZnO cores are spherical, caplike and noncentrally encapsulated in the ZIF crystals. The effects of the reaction solvent, ligand concentration and ZnO particle size were investigated, and the results show that the single‐site heterogeneous nucleation and growth of ZIF on the template surfaces are the key to the formation of ZnO@ZIF core–shell single crystals.