Small amorphous and crystalline Ni–P particles synthesized in glycol for catalytic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene

•Ni–P was synthesized via atmospheric solvothermal method using cheap materials.•Uniform and small Ni–P particle sizes were obtained at facile conditions.•Phase state of Ni–P could be controlled conveniently by adjusting synthetic time.•Amorphous Ni–P gave much higher hydrogenation activities than crystalline Ni–P.

Amorphous and crystalline Ni–P particles were synthesized via atmospheric solvothermal method using the cheap materials of nickel chloride hexahydrate and sodium hypophosphite. The Ni–P samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Uniform and small Ni–P particle sizes were obtained at facile conditions, and the phase state of Ni–P could be controlled conveniently by adjusting the synthetic time. In the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene, the amorphous Ni–P gave much higher activities compared to the counterpart crystalline Ni–P.

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