Rapid and efficient chromium (VI) removal from aqueous solutions using nickel hydroxide nanoplates (nNiHs)

•Nickel hydroxide nanoplates (nNiHs) showed rapid and complete Cr(VI) removal.•Rapid and efficient Cr(VI) removal was achieved at wide pH and temperature ranges.•Maximum Cr(VI) sorption capacity 71.3 mg/g was achieved in short equilibrium time.•Cr(VI) removal was not influenced with the co-existing anions (Cl-, NO3–, and SO42-).•Electrostatic adsorption was the dominance in Cr(VI) removal by nNiHs.