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Here we report an environmentally friendly, one-pot strategy toward preparation of nickel nanoparticle-decorated reduced graphene-oxide (Ni-RGO) nanostructures, by employing Ni(AC) 2 as nickel source and ethylene glycol as both solvent and reducing agent via a facile microwave irradiation heating approach. The results show that Ni nanoparticles with an average diameter of around 40 nm are homogeneously anchored onto the surface of RGO sheets. As compared to the pure Ni nanoparticles and RGO sheets, Ni-RGO composites with over 64 wt% loading of Ni nanoparticles possess superior catalytic activities and selectivity toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The corresponding kinetic reaction rate constant (defined as κ ) is even four-fold compared to pure Ni nanoparticles. Such promising composites show great potential for friendly treatment of industrial waste containing nitrophenol in a simple, sustainable and green way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]