Pt nanoparticles anchored on bifunctional CuFe 2 O 4 submicrospheres with improved catalytic properties for the reduction of [Fe(CN)6] 3− by S 2 O 3 2−

We have developed a facile three-step fabricating procedure whereby uniformly distributed and highly catalytically active Pt nanoparticles (NPs) were anchored on the superparamagnetic and catalytically active CuFe 2 O 4 submicrospheres to form core-shell CuFe 2 O 4 @Pt nanocomposite catalyst. The as-prepared CuFe 2 O 4 and CuFe 2 O 4 @Pt catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-angle annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Their catalytic properties for reduction of [Fe(CN)6] 3− to [Fe(CN)6] 4− by S 2 O 3 2− were comparatively studied. The results indicate that the inherent catalytic performance of CuFe 2 O 4 can be improved dramatically when Pt NPs are homogeneously dispersed and firmly immobilized on its surface. The remarkably enhanced catalytic activity is mainly ascribed to the excellent catalytic performance of noble metal Pt. Schematic diagram of fabrication of core-shell CuFe 2 O 4 @Pt.