Preparation, characterization and catalytic activity of nickel molybdate (NiMoO4) nanoparticles

Abstract

Nickel molybdate (NiMoO4) nanoparticles were synthesized via calcination of an oxalate complex in static air at 500◦C. The oxalate complex was analyzed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The as-synthesized nickel molybdate was characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and its catalytic efficiency was tested in the reduction reaction of the three-nitrophenol isomers. The nickel molybdate displays a very high activity in the catalytic reduction of the nitro functional group to an amino. The reduction progress was controlled using Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption.