Facile synthesis of antimony selenide with lamellar nanostructures and their efficient catalysis for the hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol

Antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) composed of numerous lamellas with average thickness of circa (ca.) 10 nm have been fabricated through a hydrothermal method, in which ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (Na(2)EDTA) is selected as complex agent. Experimental parameters such as concentration of reactants and alkaline condition play crucial roles in determining the morphologies and homogeneity of the final products. Interesting self-assemble process and color change in stock solution has been observed, and a possible growth mechanism of Sb2Se3 with distinctive morphologies is proposed and discussed in detail. Importantly, the as-prepared products show efficient catalytic performance for reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol at room temperature. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.