A novel carboxylic-functional indole-based aerogel for highly effective removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution via synergistic effects of face-point and point-point interactions.

A new type of carboxylic-functional indole-based aerogel (CHIFA) has been successfully prepared via a facile sol-gel technology, which possessed a highly effective removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution through the synergistic effects of face-point and point-point interactions.