Hollow carbon spheres (HCS) containing Co nanoparticles placed inside the HCS were synthesized for the first time using polystyrene spheres as a template. The encapsulated Co nanoparticles, after reduction, showed Fischer-Tropsch (FT) activity indicating syngas accessibility through the HCS porous shell. Two Co catalysts promoted by Ru, placed either inside or outside the HCS (CoRu@HCS and Co@HCS@Ru), were also synthesized andThe location of the Co and Ru was confirmed by SEM and TEM analyses. Insitu XRD studies indicated enhanced H2 reduction of the Co oxide to Co, inside the HCS, in the order CoRu@HCS >Co@HCS@Ru > Co@HCS. The CoRu@HCS catalyst had the highest FT activity, and this was ascribed to a primary spillover effect associated with the direct contact of the Co and Ru inside the HCS. A small secondary spillover effect was also noted for Co@HCS@Ru.