Highly active Au-CeO 2 @ZrO 2 yolk–shell nanoreactors for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol

•Au-CeO2@ZrO2 nanoreactors show high catalytic activity in 4-nitrophenol reduction.•The decoration of gold nuclei with ceria in yolk–shell nanoreactors was proposed.•CeO2 decoration does not affect the catalytic activity in 2-nitrophenol reduction.•Decoration of Au nuclei with ceria results in an activity increase in CO oxidation.