Magnetic Ru-capped/FeCo nanoflowers are solvothermally synthesised through a self-catalytic growth and assembly process. The synthesised Ru-capped/FeCo nanoflowers (similar to 3.63 mu m) consist of Ru-capped FeCo nanorods with an average diameter of similar to 13 nm and a length ranging from 133 to 2.1 mu m. A vibration sample magnetometer measurement reveals that the ferromagnetic behaviours depend on nanomaterial composition. Particularly, an appropriate quantity of Fe in the composition improved catalytic activity. The Fe22Co73/Ru-5 nanoflowers exhibits the highest catalytic activity towards NaBH4 hydrolytic dehydrogenation at ambient pressure and room temperature (the dehydrogenation rate is 4293.75 mL min(-1) g(-1) the activation energy is 42.95 kJ mol(-1)). (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.