A Smart Route for Encapsulating Pd Nanoparticles into a ZIF-8 Hollow Microsphere and Their Superior Catalytic Properties

The encapsulation of catalytically active noble metal nanoparticles (NM NPs) into metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) represents an effective strategy for enhancing their catalytic performance. Despite a myriad of reports on the nanocomposites consisting of NM NPs and MOFs, it remains challenging to develop a sustainable and convenient method for realizing confined integration of NM NPs within a porous and hollow zinc-based MOF. Herein, a simple and well-designed approach is reported to the fabrication of Pd@ZIF-8 hollow microspheres with a number of Pd nanoparticles immobilized on the inner surface. This method capitalized on the use of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-stabilized polystyrene (PS) microspheres as templates, to harness the dual functions of PVP for reducing PdCl2 to generate Pd NPs and coordinating with zinc ions to grow ZIF-8 shells. Consequently, it avoids the complicated protocols involving surface treatment of template microspheres that conventionally adopts hazardous or costly agents. The obtained Pd@ZIF-8 hollow microspheres exhibit outstanding catalytic activity, size selectivity, and stability in the hydrogenation of alkenes. This study presents both the advances in the green synthesis and great potential of Pd@ZIF-8 hollow microspheres for catalytic applications.