Hollow cubic-like CuInS2 cages were prepared with cubic Cu2O nanocrystals as self-sacrificing template through solvothermal process. The formation of these hollow structures could be attributed to the migration of copper ions and the copy of cubic Cu2O template based on the Kirkendall effect and the Ostwald ripening process. Such process and mechanism might be extended to synthesize other hollow ternary chalcogenide materials. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.