Noble-metal nanostructures containing gold (Au) nanorods in the center were synthesized by employing Au nanorods as templates for epitaxial growth of silver (Ag). The immediate products, Au@Ag core-shell nanocrystals with an octahedral shape, were transformed into noble-metal (Au, Pd, and Pt) hollow nanostructures containing Au nanorods in the center, via galvanic replacement reactions (see figure). [GRAPHICS] .