Kinetically controlled synthesis of nickel tetrahedron nanocrystals for high performance catalytic hydrogenation

Abstract

Ni nanocrystals with a tetrahedral shape were synthesized through a solution-phase approach with sodium citrate serving as a capping surfactant. A ferromagnetic Ni tetrahedron exclusively bound by {111} facets achieved superior catalytic activity for toluene hydrogenation compared to Ni nanoflowers and Ni nanoparticles.