Fe3O4@MOF core–shell magnetic microspheres with a designable metal–organic framework shell

A novel kind of porous microsphere with a magnetic core and a tunable metal–organic framework (MOF) shell has been successfully fabricated utilizing a versatile step-by-step assembly strategy. The structure, composition, and function of the microspheres can be judiciously tailored by choosing various metal ions and polyfunctional organic ligands or tuning the assembly processes. Our results provide a valuable methodology for rationally designing novel core–shell architectures and MOF-based porous magnetic platforms.