Three Mechanisms in One Material: Uranium Capture by a Polyoxometalate–Organic Framework through Combined Complexation, Chemical Reduction, and Photocatalytic Reduction

Abstract The design and synthesis of uranium sorbent materials with high uptake efficiency, capacity and selectivity, as well as excellent hydrolytic stability and radiation resistance remains a challenge. Herein, a polyoxometalate (POM)–organic framework material ( SCU‐19 ) with a rare inclined polycatenation structure was designed, synthesized through a solvothermal method, and tested for uranium separation. Under dark conditions, SCU‐19 can efficiently capture uranium through ligand complexation using its exposed oxo atoms and partial chemical reduction from U VI to U IV by the low‐valent Mo atoms in the POM. An additional U VI photocatalytic reduction mechanism can occur under visible light irradiation,…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 21790374, 21825601
• CP
  China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

  Award: 2019M651802