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

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 m(2) g(-1) to 465 m(2) g(-1). The Mg(OH)(2)/GO nanocomposite with a surface area of 465 m(2) 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)).