Nowadays,　rattle-like　or　so-called　yolk-shell　nanostructures　have　set　off　a　new　wave　of　research　in　view　of　their　prominent　features　including　large　surface　area,　tunable　void　and　flexible　functional　core,　etc.　Herein,　rattle-like　mesoporous　silica　nanoparticles　(RMSNs)　with　a　pure　silica　core,　a　hollow　cavity　and　a　mesoporous　shell　have　been　successfully　fabricated　via　a　surfactant-assisted　selective　etching　strategy.　The　synthetic　approach　involves　the　preparation　of　solid　silica　spheres　with　three-layer　different　structural　silica　containing　the　inner　core　of　pure　silica,　middle　layer　of　hybrid　silica　and　outer　shell　of　surfactant/SiO2　composite,　followed　by　a　hydrothermal　treatment　in　hot　water.　The　resulting　products　show　a　distinct　rattle-like　structure　and　spherical　morphology.　The　average　diameter,　the　shell　thickness,　and　the　solid　core　size　of　RMSNs　are　about　290,　35　and　90　nm,　respectively.　During　the　etching　process,　the　surfactant　with　different　length　of　alkyl　chain　(C(n)TAB,　e.g.　cetyltrimethylammonium　bromide)　in　outer　shell　plays　a　decisive　role　for　the　formation　of　rattle-like　structure.　Benefiting　from　the　residual　amino　groups　in　RMSNs,　Au@RMSNs　composites　can　be　further　constructed　by　in-situ　generating　Au　nanoparticles　into　their　hollow　cavity,　demonstrating　an　excellent　catalytic　performance　for　reduction　of　4-nitrophenol.　Additionally,　RMSNs　also　show　a　strong　ability　for　adsorption　of　rhodamine　B.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.