Detection of copper ions from aqueous solutions using layered double hydroxides thin films deposited by PLD

•PLD was successfully used to produce Mg2Al thin films from Mg–Al LDH target (Mg/Al=2).•Well oriented LDH films were obtained for all three wavelengths of a Nd:YAG laser: 266nm, 352nm, 1064nm.•Mg–Al LDH thin films obtained in this work could be suitable as adsorbent material for the detection of copper in aqueous solutions. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) thin films with Mg–Al were deposited using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. We studied the ability of our films to detect copper ions in aqueous solutions. Copper is known to be a common pollutant in water, originating from urban and industrial waste. Clay minerals, including layered double hydroxides (LDHs), can reduce the toxicity of such wastes by adsorbing copper. We report on the uptake of copper ions from aqueous solution on LDH thin films obtained via PLD. The obtained thin films were characterized using X-ray Diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis. The results in this study indicate that LDHs thin films obtained by PLD have potential as an efficient adsorbent for removing copper from aqueous solution.