One-pot solvothermal synthesis of bimetallic yolk–shell Ni@PtNi nanocrystals supported on reduced graphene oxide and their excellent catalytic properties for p-nitrophenol reduction

Well-defined bimetallic yolk–shell nanostructures of Ni@PtNi nanocrystals with porous shells were uniformly deposited on reduced graphene oxide (Ni@PtNi NCs-rGO) under hydrothermal conditions. The physical characterization was systematically investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The as-fabricated products exhibited improved catalytic performance toward the reduction of p-nitrophenol in comparison with commercial Pt/C (50 wt%), monometallic Pt nanoparticles/rGO and Ni nanoparticles/rGO catalysts.