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Since pioneering work done in the late 1990s, synthesis of functional hollow materials has experienced a rapid growth over the past two decades while their applications have been proven to be advantageous across many technological fields. In the field of heterogeneous catalysis, the development of micro- and nanoscale hollow materials as catalytic devices has also yielded promising results, because of their higher activity, stability, and selectivity. Herein, the architecture and preparation of these catalysts with tailorable composition and morphology are reviewed. First, synthesis of hollow materials is introduced according to the classification of template mediated, template free, and combined approaches. Second, different architectural designs of hollow catalytic devices, such as those without functionalization, with active components supported onto hollow materials, with active components incorporated within porous shells, and with active components confined within interior cavities, are evaluated respectively. The observed catalytic performances of this new class of catalysts are correlated to structural merits of individual configuration. Examples that demonstrate synthetic approaches and architected configurations are provided. Lastly, possible future directions are proposed to advance this type of hollow catalytic devices on the basis of our personal perspectives.