Andelkovic, I.B.Kabiri, S.Da Silva, R.Tavakkoli, E.Kirby, J.K.Losic, D.Mclaughlin, M.J.2019-07-192019-07-192019New Journal of Chemistry: a journal for new directions in chemistry, 2019; 43(22):8580-85891144-05461369-9261http://hdl.handle.net/2440/120180Current commercially available phosphorus (P) fertilisers, which are highly soluble salts, are susceptible to surface runoff to waterways, and leaching to groundwaters where soils are light/medium textured. Here, we report the synthesis of a graphene oxide (GO)/iron (GO–Fe) composite, a promising carrier for loading P. The GO–Fe carriers loaded with P acted as slow release fertilisers with tunable loading/release properties. The amount of P loaded onto the GO–Fe composite was 15%, similar to commercial products. Investigation of the morphology and spectroscopic and chemical analysis revealed a complex loading mechanism of Fe onto GO. Iron, as an active center for P sorption, could interact with the oxygen functional groups at the edge of GO sheets as well as the π-electron system of the aromatic part of GO. Column perfusion studies, visualisation of P diffusion in soils and chemical analysis of soils after diffusion showed the composites to have slow-release properties. Pot experiments using wheat and our composites resulted in the same yield as using highly soluble commercial fertiliser.enThis journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 2019Journal article003011818310.1039/c9nj01641d0004709197000212-s2.0-85066933336477081Andelkovic, I.B. [0000-0002-4570-0540]Kabiri, S. [0000-0002-2269-6075]Da Silva, R. [0000-0002-2345-3729]Tavakkoli, E. [0000-0002-2676-6018]Losic, D. [0000-0002-1930-072X]Mclaughlin, M.J. [0000-0001-6796-4144]