MOF-derived magnetic Ni-carbon submicrorods for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Magnetic Ni-carbon submicrorods were easily synthesized via the direct pyrolysis of [Ni-3(BTC)(2)center dot 12H(2)O] precursors at different temperatures. The [Ni-3(BTC)(2)center dot 12H(2)O] precursors were obtained using a simple direct precipitation method at room temperature, which is distinctly different from previous reports. The porous Ni-carbon submicrorods obtained exhibited excellent catalytic activity and good reusability for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. In particular, the activity factor kappa (kappa = k/m, s(-1) g(-1)) of the Ni/C catalyst synthesized at 800 degrees C was found to be 17.41 s(-1) g(-1), which is higher than that of many previously reported Ni-based and noble metal-based catalysts. Therefore, magnetically recoverable Ni-carbon submicrorods appear as promising catalysts to be practically explored for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol because of their facile synthesis and excellent performance.