Poly(amidoxime) (PAO) was grafted on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via an in situ polymerization reaction to fabricate poly(amidoxime) grafted graphene (PAO-g-rGO) complexes. The as-prepared composites exhibited improved hydrophilicity and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The applications of the synthesized PAO-g-rGO to remove radionuclides, Sr(II), Eu(III) and Co(II), from aqueous solution were investigated with the maximum adsorption capacities of 99.4 mg/g, 296.4 mg/g and 177.6 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption reached equilibriums within 4 h and the kinetics could be well fitted by a pseudo-second-model. Effects of contact time, pH, ionic strength and temperature on radionuclides adsorption onto PAO-g-rGO were studied, indicating high dependences on pH and ionic strength. Adsorption isotherms fitted with Langmuir models well and the adsorption processes were spontaneous and endothermic. Experimental results exhibited a potential application of PAO-g-rGO in radionuclides cleanup. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.