journal article·2026-02-19Open access

Magnetic layered double hydroxide supported gold nanoparticles as a robust and recyclable catalyst for the reduction of 4- nitrophenol and oxidation of alkenes and benzyl alcohols

Mohammad Mavvaji, Rahman Hosseinzadeh, Shahin Ehsani

Discover Nano· Volume 21· Issue 1

Abstract

In this study, we report the synthesis of a novel magnetic nanocomposite, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@MgAl-LDH@Au, as an efficient and environmentally benign catalyst for both reduction and oxidation reactions. The mesoporous nanocomposite was well-identified using FT-IR, XRD, EDX, TEM, TGA, FESEM, VSM, BET and XPS analyses. Its catalytic performance was first evaluated in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, monitored by UV–Vis spectroscopy, which confirmed its remarkable activity in the presence of sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. Furthermore, the catalyst was tested in the oxidation of organic substrates, exhibiting moderate to high conversion and selectivity for benzyl alcohols and alkenes. Notably, Fe3O4@SiO2@MgAl-LDH@Au demonstrated excellent recoverability and reusability over multiple cycles, with only a slight decrease in catalytic activity.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Nanomaterials for catalytic reactions · Asymmetric Hydrogenation and Catalysis · Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

References (64)

Show source-provided references
1. Qin L, Zeng G, Lai C, Huang D, Zhang C, Cheng M, et al. Synthetic strategies and application of gold-based nanocatalysts for nitroaromatics reduction. Sci Total Environ. 2019;652:93–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.215.10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.215 ↗
2. Scurrell MS. Thoughts on the use of gold-based catalysts in environmental protection catalysis. Gold Bull. 2017;50(1):77–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13404-017-0194-z.10.1007/s13404-017-0194-z ↗
3. Carabineiro SA. Supported gold nanoparticles as catalysts for the oxidation of alcohols and alkanes. Front Chem. 2019;7:702. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2019.00702.10.3389/fchem.2019.00702 ↗
4. Nepak D, Srinivas D. Spectroscopy and catalytic activity study of gold supported on barium titanate nanotubes for styrene epoxidation. Appl Catal A Gen. 2016;523:61–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2016.05.014.10.1016/j.apcata.2016.05.014 ↗
5. Nakayama A, Yoshida A, Aono C, Honma T, Sakaguchi N, Taketoshi A, et al. Preparation and catalytic properties of gold single-atom and cluster catalysts utilizing nanoparticulate Mg-Al layered double hydroxides. ChemPlusChem. 2025;90(3):e202400465. https://doi.org/10.1002/cplu.202400465.10.1002/cplu.202400465 ↗
6. Della Pina C, Falletta E, Prati L, Rossi M. Selective oxidation using gold. Chem Soc Rev. 2008;37(9):2077–95. https://doi.org/10.1039/B707319B.10.1039/B707319B ↗
7. Gul M, Kashif M, Muhammad S, Azizi S, Sun H. Various methods of synthesis and applications of gold-based nanomaterials: a detailed review. Cryst Growth Des. 2025;25(7):2227–66. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.4c01687.10.1021/acs.cgd.4c01687 ↗
8. Fang HHP, Chan OC. Toxicity of phenol towards anaerobic biogranules. Water Res. 1997;31:2229–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(97)00069-9.10.1016/S0043-1354(97)00069-9 ↗
9. Zhang W, Xiao X, An T, Song Z, Fu J, Sheng G, et al. Kinetics, degradation pathway and reaction mechanism of advanced oxidation of 4-nitrophenol in water by a UV/H2O2 process. J Chem Technol Biotechnol. 2003;78:788–94. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.864.10.1002/jctb.864 ↗
10. Eichenbaum G, Johnson M, Kirkland D, O’Neill P, Stellar S, Bielawne J, et al. Assessment of the genotoxic and carcinogenic risks of p-nitrophenol when it is present as an impurity in a drug product. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2009;55:33–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2009.05.018.10.1016/j.yrtph.2009.05.018 ↗
11. Rappoport Z. The chemistry of anilines: part 1. Chichester: Wiley; 2009.
12. Ellis F. Paracetamol: a curriculum resource. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry; 2002.
13. Kassouf W, Tanguay S, Aprikian AG. Nilutamide as second line hormone therapy for prostate cancer after androgen ablation fails. J Urol. 2003;169:1742–4. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ju.0000057795.97626.66.10.1097/01.ju.0000057795.97626.66 ↗
14. Banou M, Niu Y, Ammari F, Dunlop T, Palmer RE, Tizaoui C. Fabrication of graphene nanoplatelets/MgAl-layered double hydroxide nanocomposites as efficient support for gold nanoparticles and their catalytic performance in 4-nitrophenol reduction. Process Saf Environ Prot. 2023;174:891–900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2023.04.051.10.1016/j.psep.2023.04.051 ↗
15. Hu R, Xu R, Wang Z, Wang J, Zhou S. Enhanced catalytic nitrophenol reduction via highly porous hollow silica nanospheres stabilized Au nanoclusters. Chem Eng J. 2023;471:144780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.144780.10.1016/j.cej.2023.144780 ↗
16. Gupta P, Rani S, Sah D, Shabir J, Singh B, Pani B, et al. Basic ionic liquid grafted on magnetic nanoparticles: an efficient and highly active recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of β-nitroalcohols and 4H-benzo [b] pyrans. J Mol Struct. 2023;1274:134351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134351.10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134351 ↗
17. Gupta P, Garkoti C, Shabir J, Sah D, Surabhi S, Mozumdar S. Amine grafted Fe3O4 immobilized graphene oxide as a recyclable and effectual nanocomposite for the regioselective ring opening reaction. Res Chem Intermed. 2021;47(10):4013–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-021-04509-4.10.1007/s11164-021-04509-4 ↗
18. Demirelli M, Karaoğlu E, Baykal A, Sözeri H, Uysal E. Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of CoFe2O4-APTES-Pd magnetic recyclable catalyst. J Alloys Compd. 2014;582:201–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.07.174.10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.07.174 ↗
19. Dong Z, Liang K, Dong C, Li X, Le X, Ma J. Palladium modified magnetic mesoporous carbon derived from metal-organic frameworks as a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst for hydrogenation of nitroarenes. RSC Adv. 2015;5:20987–91. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA00878F.10.1039/C5RA00878F ↗
20. Dong Z, Yu G, Le X. Gold nanoparticle modified magnetic fibrous silica microspheres as a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. New J Chem. 2015;39:8623–9. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5NJ00713E.10.1039/C5NJ00713E ↗
21. Ahsan MA, Fernandez-Delgado O, Deemer E, Wang H, El-Gendy AA, Curry ML, et al. Carbonization of Co-BDC MOF results in magnetic C@ Co nanoparticles that catalyze the reduction of methyl orange and 4-nitrophenol in water. J Mol Liq. 2019;290:111059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2019.111059.10.1016/j.molliq.2019.111059 ↗
22. Wang P, Zhu H, Liu M, Niu J, Yuan B, Li R, et al. Stabilizing Pd on the surface of amine-functionalized hollow Fe3O4 spheres: a highly active and recyclable catalyst for Suzuki cross-coupling and hydrogenation reactions. RSC Adv. 2014;4:28922–7. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA02130D.10.1039/C4RA02130D ↗
23. Byun S, Song Y, Kim BM. Heterogenized bimetallic Pd–Pt–Fe3O4 nanoflakes as extremely robust, magnetically recyclable catalysts for chemoselective nitroarene reduction. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016;8:14637–47. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b05229.10.1021/acsami.6b05229 ↗
24. An Q, Yu M, Zhang Y, Ma W, Guo J, Wang C. Fe3O4@ carbon microsphere supported Ag–Au bimetallic nanocrystals with the enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity for the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds. J Phys Chem C. 2012;116:22432–40. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp307629m.10.1021/jp307629m ↗
25. Zhang P, Li R, Huang Y, Chen Q. A novel approach for the in situ synthesis of Pt-Pd nanoalloys supported on Fe3O4@ C core-shell nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic activity for reduction reactions. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2014;6:2671–8. https://doi.org/10.1021/am405167h.10.1021/am405167h ↗
26. Gong C, Zhou Z, Li J, Zhou H, Liu R. Facile synthesis of ultra stable Fe3O4@ Carbon core-shell nanoparticles entrapped satellite au catalysts with enhanced 4-nitrophenol reduction property. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng. 2018;84:229–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2018.01.026.10.1016/j.jtice.2018.01.026 ↗
27. Yang S, Zhang ZH, Chen Q, He MY, Wang L. Magnetically recyclable metal–organic framework@ Fe3O4 composite‐catalyzed facile reduction of nitroarene compounds in aqueous medium. Appl Organomet Chem. 2018;32:e4132. https://doi.org/10.1002/aoc.4132.10.1002/aoc.4132 ↗
28. Hosseinzadeh R, Mavvaji M, Moradi I. Synthesis and characterization of Fe3O4@ SiO2@ MgAl-LDH@ Au.Pd as an efficient and magnetically recyclable catalyst for reduction of 4-nitrophenol and Suzuki coupling reactions. Arab J Sci Eng. 2023;48:7525–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-022-07543-5.10.1007/s13369-022-07543-5 ↗
29. Lourens A, Falch A, Malgas-Enus R. Magnetite immobilized metal nanoparticles in the treatment and removal of pollutants from wastewater: a review. J Mater Sci. 2023;58(7):2951–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-023-08167-2.10.1007/s10853-023-08167-2 ↗
30. Payamifar S, Aslaheh HS, Marjani AP. Review of the recent application of magnetic silver nanocatalysts as an easily retrievable catalyst in nitroarene reduction. J Organomet Chem. 2025;1038:123776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jorganchem.2025.123776.10.1016/j.jorganchem.2025.123776 ↗
31. Jing H, Xie Q, Su H, Zhai Y, Sun X, Duan B, et al. Synthesis and catalytic performance of h-Au/PDA@PDA@Fe3O4 hollow spheres for the 4-NP reduction. Appl Surf Sci. 2025;710:163925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2025.163925.10.1016/j.apsusc.2025.163925 ↗
32. Chang YC, Chen DH. Catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol by magnetically recoverable Au nanocatalyst. J Hazard Mater. 2009;165:664–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.10.034.10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.10.034 ↗
33. Choi Y, Bae HS, Seo E, Jang S, Park KH, Kim BS. Hybrid gold nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide nanosheets as active catalysts for highly efficient reduction of nitroarenes. J Mater Chem. 2011;21:15431–6. https://doi.org/10.1039/C1JM12477C.10.1039/C1JM12477C ↗
34. Lin FH, Doong RA. Bifunctional Au-Fe3O4 heterostructures for magnetically recyclable catalysis of nitrophenol reduction. J Phys Chem C. 2011;115:6591–8. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp110956k.10.1021/jp110956k ↗
35. Zheng J, Dong Y, Wang W, Ma Y, Hu J, Chen X, et al. In situ loading of gold nanoparticles on Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanocomposites and their high catalytic activity. Nanoscale. 2013;5:4894–901. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3NR01075A.10.1039/C3NR01075A ↗
36. Xu K, Wu J, Fang Q, Bai L, Duan J, Li J, et al. Magnetically separable h-Fe3O4@Au/polydopamine nanosphere with a hollow interior: a versatile candidate for nanocatalysis and metal ion adsorption. Chem Eng J. 2020;398:125571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.125571.10.1016/j.cej.2020.125571 ↗
37. Sun L, Xie Q, Jing H, Xie J, Tan W, Duan B, et al. A systematic study on Au-PDA@Fe3O4 core-shell catalysts for enhanced catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp. 2024;703:135420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.135420.10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.135420 ↗
38. Do MH, Duong PD, Nguyen XT, Le VD, Nguyen CH, Fajgar R, et al. In situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles embedded in a magnetic nanocomposite of glucosamine/alginate for enhancing recyclable catalysis performance of nitrophenol reduction. Nanoscale Adv. 2025;7(3):886–98. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00979G.10.1039/D4NA00979G ↗
39. Mavvaji M, Senan AM, Akkoc S. Magnetic layered double hydroxide nanocomposites: synthesis, catalytic performances, environmental and biological applications. Energy Environ Mater. 2025;8(5):e70015. https://doi.org/10.1002/eem2.70015.10.1002/eem2.70015 ↗
40. Dinari M, Dadkhah F. Visible light photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol by new high-performance and easy recoverable Fe3O4/Ag2O-LDH hybrid photocatalysts. Appl Organomet Chem. 2021;35(10):e6355. https://doi.org/10.1002/aoc.6355.10.1002/aoc.6355 ↗
41. Gao X, Niu L, Qiao X, Feng W, Cao Y, Bai G. Facile preparation of a stable Fe3O4@ LDH@NiB magnetic core-shell nanocomposite for hydrogenation. Chin J Chem. 2017;35:1149–56. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjoc.201600759.10.1002/cjoc.201600759 ↗
42. Dinari M, Dadkhah F. Swift reduction of 4-nitrophenol by easy recoverable magnetite-Ag/layered double hydroxide/starch bionanocomposite. Carbohydr Polym. 2020;228:115392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115392.10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115392 ↗
43. Ay AN, Abramova NV, Konuk D, Lependina OL, Sokolov VI, Zümreoglu-Karan B. Magnetically-recoverable Pd-immobilized layered double hydroxide-iron oxide nanocomposite catalyst for carbon-carbon cross-coupling reactions. Inorg Chem Commun. 2013;27:64–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2012.10.020.10.1016/j.inoche.2012.10.020 ↗
44. Li J, Wang Y, Jiang S, Zhang H. Facile synthesis of magnetic recyclable palladium-gold alloy nanoclusters catalysts PdAur/Fe3O4@LDH and its catalytic applications in Heck reaction. J Organomet Chem. 2018;878:84–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jorganchem.2018.10.007.10.1016/j.jorganchem.2018.10.007 ↗
45. Choudhary A, Sharma V, Sharma S, Sharma N, Paul S. Pd nanoparticles supported on magnetic CoTiMgLDH with enhanced catalytic activity in Suzuki cross-coupling and reductive degradation of dyes. Appl Organomet Chem. 2023;37:e7112. https://doi.org/10.1002/aoc.7112.10.1002/aoc.7112 ↗
46. Mi F, Chen X, Ma Y, Yin S, Yuan F, Zhang H. Facile synthesis of hierarchical core-shell Fe3O4@MgAl–LDH@Au as magnetically recyclable catalysts for catalytic oxidation of alcohols. Chem Commun. 2011;47:12804–6. https://doi.org/10.1039/C1CC15858A.10.1039/C1CC15858A ↗
47. Kumar P, Gill K, Kumar S, Ganguly SK, Jain SL. Magnetic Fe3O4@MgAl-LDH composite grafted with cobalt phthalocyanine as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of mercaptans. J Mol Catal A Chem. 2015;401:48–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2015.03.001.10.1016/j.molcata.2015.03.001 ↗
48. Hosseinzadeh R, Mavvaji M, Tajbakhsh M, Lasemi Z. Synthesis and characterization of N-hydroxyphthalimide immobilized on SiO2-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles as magnetic catalyst for oxidation of benzyl alcohols and hydrocarbons. J Iran Chem Soc. 2018;15:893–904. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-017-1288-5.10.1007/s13738-017-1288-5 ↗
49. Hosseinzadeh R, Mavvaji M, Tajbakhsh M, Lasemi Z. Synthesis and characterization of N-hydroxyphthalimide immobilized on NaY nano-zeolite as a novel and efficient catalyst for the selective oxidation of hydrocarbons and benzyl alcohols. React Kinet Mech Catal. 2018;124:839–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-018-1354-8.10.1007/s11144-018-1354-8 ↗
50. Hosseinzadeh R, Mavvaji M, Tajbakhsh M, Lasemi Z, Aghili N. Selective oxidation of hydrocarbons and alcohols using Phen-MCM-41 as an efficient co-catalyst in combination with NHPI-based nano-magnetic catalyst. Org Prep Proced Int. 2020;52:99–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/00304948.2020.1716434.10.1080/00304948.2020.1716434 ↗
51. Abaszadeh M, Hosseinzadeh R, Tajbakhsh M, Ghasemi S. The synthesis of functionalized magnetic graphene oxide with 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline and investigation of its dual application in CN coupling reactions and adsorption of heavy metal ions. J Mol Struct. 2022;1261:132832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.132832.10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.132832 ↗
52. Hosseinzadeh R, Aghili N, Mavvaji M. Synthesis and characterization of nano-cellulose immobilized phenanthroline-copper (I) complex as a recyclable and efficient catalyst for preparation of diaryl ethers, N-aryl amides and N-aryl heterocycles. Polyhedron. 2022;213:115631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2021.115631.10.1016/j.poly.2021.115631 ↗
53. Hosseinzadeh R, Aghili N, Tajbakhsh M. SBA-15 immobilized phenanthroline-copper (I) complex as a recyclable efficient catalyst for N-arylation of amides and N-H heterocycles with aryl halides. Catal Lett. 2016;146:193–203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-015-1622-4.10.1007/s10562-015-1622-4 ↗
54. Hosseinzadeh R, Aghili N, Tajbakhsh M. Synthesis, characterization and catalytic application of MCM 41 supported phenanthrolinium dibromide catalyst for aza-michael addition reaction in aqueous medium. Catal Lett. 2016;146:1194–203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-016-1743-4.10.1007/s10562-016-1743-4 ↗
55. Rathore PS, Patidar R, Thakore S. Nanoparticle-supported and magnetically recoverable organic-inorganic hybrid copper (II) nanocatalyst: a selective and sustainable oxidation protocol with a high turnover number. RSC Adv. 2014;4:41111–21. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA06599A.10.1039/C4RA06599A ↗
56. Pazoki F, Mehraban JA, Shamsayei M, Bakhshi B, Esfandiarpour R, Miraki MK, et al. Aza‐michael addition of 5‐substituted tetrazole catalysed by a novel nanoparticle solid base catalyst involving a layered zinc hydroxide supported on a ferrite core. ChemistrySelect. 2019;4:2568–75. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.201804070.10.1002/slct.201804070 ↗
57. Deng Y, Cai Y, Sun Z, Liu J, Liu C, Wei J, et al. Multifunctional mesoporous composite microspheres with well-designed nanostructure: a highly integrated catalyst system. J Am Chem Soc. 2010;132(24):8466–73. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja1025744.10.1021/ja1025744 ↗
58. Zhang F, Zhao X, Feng C, Li B, Chen T, Lu W, et al. Crystal-face-selective supporting of gold nanoparticles on layered double hydroxide as efficient catalyst for epoxidation of styrene. ACS Catal. 2011;1(4):232–7. https://doi.org/10.1021/cs100089v.10.1021/cs100089v ↗
59. Leandro SR, Mourato AC, Łapińska U, Monteiro OC, Fernandes CI, Vaz PD, et al. Exploring bulk and colloidal Mg/Al hydrotalcite-Au nanoparticles hybrid materials in aerobic olefin epoxidation. J Catal. 2018;358:187–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2017.12.014.10.1016/j.jcat.2017.12.014 ↗
60. Leandro SR, Fernandes CI, Viana AS, Mourato AC, Vaz PD, Nunes CD. Catalytic performance of bulk and colloidal Co/Al layered double hydroxide with Au nanoparticles in aerobic olefin oxidation. Appl Catal A Gen. 2019;584:117155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2019.117155.10.1016/j.apcata.2019.117155 ↗
61. Weerathunga H, Brock AJ, Sarina S, Deshan ADK, Zhu HY, Waclawik ER. AuCu/ZnO heterogeneous photocatalysts: photodeposited AuCu alloy effect on product selectivity in alkene epoxidation. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem. 2022;426:113732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2021.113732.10.1016/j.jphotochem.2021.113732 ↗
62. Xiong C, Xue C, Yu X, He Y, Liang Y, Zhou X, et al. Tuning the olefin-VOCs epoxidation performance of ceria by mechanochemical loading of coinage metal. J Hazard Mater. 2023;441:129888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129888.10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129888 ↗
63. Gao Y, Xing C, Hu S, Zhang S. In situ exsolved Au nanoparticles from perovskite oxide for efficient epoxidation of styrene. J Mater Chem A. 2021;9(16):10374–84. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1TA01203G.10.1039/D1TA01203G ↗
64. Liu Y, Tsunoyama H, Akita T, Tsukuda T. Efficient and selective epoxidation of styrene with TBHP catalyzed by Au25 clusters on hydroxyapatite. Chem Comm. 2010;46(4):550–2. https://doi.org/10.1039/B921082B.10.1039/B921082B ↗