Fabrication of Fe3O4@Au hollow spheres with recyclable and efficient catalytic properties

Abstract

The preparation of catalysts with superior catalytic activity, reusability and economical processes is highly desirable. In this work, we report a route for the facile synthesis of Fe₃O₄@Au hollow spheres. The Fe₃O₄@Au hollow spheres were prepared based on Fe₃O₄ hollow spheres with gold nanoparticles inlaid on their surface. The Fe₃O₄@Au hollow nanospheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The Fe₃O₄@Au hollow spheres exhibit remarkable catalytic activity and good reusability toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) by NaBH₄ in water. In addition, the catalysts show good reusability for at least 6 successive cycles.