Anchoring superparamagnetic core–shells onto reduced graphene oxide: fabrication of Ni–carbon–rGO nanocomposite for effective adsorption and separation

Abstract

An adsorption technique based on nanocomposite materials is a simple and effective approach for the treatment of waste water. In this paper, a three-dimensional Ni–carbon–rGO (NGC) nanocomposite was synthesized through a hydrothermal process followed by carbonthermal reduction. The magnetic Ni nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated in carbon shells were anchored onto reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets. This NGC was used as an adsorbent for rhodamine B (Rh-B) removal. Compared with other adsorbent materials, NGC exhibits higher adsorption rate and efficiency up to 4.4 L g⁻¹ with good recyclability. The intrinsic superparamagnetism endows NGC enhanced separation efficiency with large adsorption capacity. The excellent removal ability for organic dyes makes NGC a useful candidate for wastewater treatment.