Metal-support interaction in catalysis: The influence of the morphology of a nano-oxide domain on catalytic activity

•How hollow oxide morphology affects the CO oxidation of supported Au NPs.•Hollow oxide morphology affected the surface charge of Au domain.•Hollow oxide morphology affected reducibility and crystallinity of oxide domain.•Structural differences did not affect the rate limiting step of CO oxidation.•Hollow oxide morphology affected the number of active sites.