Construction of a hierarchical-structured MgO-carbon nanocomposite from a metal-organic complex for efficient CO2 capture and organic pollutant removal

Rational engineering of the architecture and structure of an adsorbent material is essential for high-performance adsorption. Herein, a porous nanocomposite composed of MgO and carbon species (MgO/C) with a hierarchical architecture is fabricated via the simple pyrolysis of a Mg-containing metal-organic complex. Our investigations reveal that with the unique architectural and chemical characteristics, MgO/C performs as a remarkable solid adsorbent for gas adsorption and wastewater treatment. Impressively, in CO2 uptake, it exhibits exceptionally high CO2 capture capacity, a fast sorption rate and excellent stability. Additionally, the MgO/C nanocomposite is capable of displaying extraordinary adsorption properties in the removal of Congo red (CR) from water. The maximum CR uptake capacity can even reach as high as 2937.8 mg g(-1), which is the highest recorded value among all of the previously reported solid adsorbents. The work presented here is expected to give fresh inspiration for the refined design of next-generation advanced solid adsorbents for environmental remediation including CO2 abatement and water purification.