Magnesium hydroxide nanoplate/graphene oxide composites as efficient adsorbents for organic dyes

Abstract

Nanocomposites comprised of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) and graphene oxide (GO) were prepared by the controlled precipitation of a magnesium salt on the GO surface. The population of Mg(OH)₂ nanocrystals on the GO surface could be varied by varying the Mg(OH)₂ precursor amount; the surface area of the resulting Mg(OH)₂/GO nanocomposites varied from 75.2 m² g⁻¹ to 465 m² g⁻¹. The Mg(OH)₂/GO nanocomposite with a surface area of 465 m² g⁻¹ showed the best performance. Owing to the synergistic effect of the nanoplate structure of Mg(OH)₂ and the 2D structure of GO, the obtained Mg(OH)₂/GO nanocomposites exhibited high performance in methylene blue adsorption (adsorption capacity: 779.4 mg g⁻¹).