title: Controlled synthesis of magnetic Pd/Fe3O4 spheres via an ethylenediamine-assisted route.
abstract: A simple route based on time-dependent growth was employed to synthesize solid and hollow spheres of Pd/Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposite. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) imaging shows that the spheres are composed of nanocrystals with the solid spheres having a diameter of 533 nm whereas the hollow ones having a diameter of 520 nm and a shell thickness of 100 nm. An assembly-then-growth mechanism for the formation of the magnetic Pd/Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposite has also been elucidated on the basis of the experimental observations. It is demonstrated that the Pd/Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposite functions as a heterogeneous catalyst for the hydrogenation reaction of p-nitrophenol at room temperature under atmospheric pressure. Both the solid and hollow spheres possess unique magnetic properties so that they may be conveniently separated and recovered by a magnet after the catalytic reaction.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P R China.
authors.forename: Hai-Qun
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Kai-Xue
authors.initials: KX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie-Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen