▎ 摘　　要

A new heterogeneous catalyst was obtained by growing graphene quantum dots on chitosan and subsequent immobilization of Pd nanoparticles. The catalyst after characterization was used in the reduction of nitroarenes to the corresponding amines by NaBH4 as a weak reducing agent of nitro compounds. The catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and selectivity under mild reaction conditions in water as a green solvent during 1 h. Additionally, the catalyst can be reused for five consecutive runs without any significant decrease in its activity and selectivity.