Tuned depositing Ag clusters on ZrO2 nanocrystals from silver mirror reaction of silver–dodecylamine complexes

We for the first time have synthesized Ag/ZrO2 nanocomposites from silver mirror reaction in toluene, which refers to the reduction of silver–dodecylamine complexes by acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) in the presence of ZrO2 nanocrystals. The obtained nanocomposites show excellent catalytic activity in the successive reduction of p-nitrophenol (4-NP) by NaBH4.