Activating 2D nano-kaolinite using hybrid nanoparticles for enhanced phosphate capture

A synergistic host-guest coupling is exploited to disorder nano-kaolinite unit layers to form Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles, which act as activated adsorptive sites; meanwhile, the coupling enables La-based nanoparticles to anchor homogenously on the nano-kaolinite surfaces, fully utilizing their adsorption ability. The activated hybrid nanostructures exhibit an excellent phosphate adsorption capacity. A natural 2D kaolinite host is activated by hybridizing with adsorptive La-based nanoparticles, demonstrating efficient phosphate capture.