Synthesis of Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag magnetic nanocomposite based on small-sized and highly dispersed silver nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

► Constructing core-shell structured Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag magnetic nanocomposite. ► Small and highly dispersed Ag nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution. ► An easy magnetically separable and recoverable process. ► An excellent catalytic activity toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol.