Synthesis and catalytic properties of amorphous Ni–P alloy hollow microspheres

Amorphous Ni–P hollow microspheres have been synthesized on a large scale by using a template method via electroless deposition. Hollow glass microspheres were used as templates. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system and X-ray powder diffraction were used to characterize such hollow microspheres. The liquid-phase nitrobenzene hydrogenation was used as a probe reaction to evaluate the catalytic activity of the obtained hollow microspheres. And the result shows that the amorphous Ni–P alloy hollow microspheres exhibit higher catalytic activity and stability than Raney-Ni catalysts.