Fabrication and catalytic activity of FeNi@Ni nanocables for the reduction of p-nitrophenol

Abstract

Magnetic FeNi@Ni nanocables were prepared as a superior recyclable catalyst towards the hydrogenation reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol through a two-step tunable assembly process in a solvothermal system. The proposed fabrication mechanism was verified through characterization by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, and UV-Vis. The as-prepared FeNi@Ni nanocomposites are core–shell-structured nanocables with Ni nanoparticles (NPs) attached on FeNi nanorods (NRs) surface loosely. The catalytic reactivity monitored by means of a UV-vis dynamic process shows FeNi@Ni nanocables can catalyse the transformation of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol completely under an ambient atmosphere at room temperature, and enable the catalysis to be more efficient than its counterparts FeNi NRs and Ni NPs due to the interfacial synergistic effect. Additionally, the resultant hierarchical metal–alloy nanocomposites possess ferromagnetic behaviour, and can be easily separated and recycled by an external magnet field for application.