Attachment of nickel oxide nanoparticles on the surface of palygorskite nanofibers

► Nanosized NiO was uniformly assembled onto palygorskite (PAL) fibers. ► NiO/PAL nanocomposites exhibited higher photocatalytic activities than pure NiO. ► Interfacial binding of NiO and PAL ensured the composite structure of NiO/PAL.