journal article·2026-07Open access

Ultrafast, High‐Capacity Uranium Harvesting From Seawater via a Hierarchically Porous Polymer Electrode

Zejun Song, Zhenggong Wang, Lele Guo, Zhining Wang, Keming Wan, Ting Zhang, Wangxi Fang, Jian Jin

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 39

Abstract

ABSTRACT Efficient uranium extraction from seawater is a critical challenge in advancing sustainable nuclear energy, given the vast but dilute reserves of uranium in oceans. Here, we report a hierarchically porous polymer electrode engineered for electrochemical uranium harvesting with unprecedented performance. Fabricated via a non‐solvent phase inversion process, the electrode features an interconnected microporous‐mesoporous architecture that enhances uranium uptake and facilitates ion transport, where the amidoxime groups promote selective adsorption of uranyl ions, and they are subsequently electrodeposited as crystalline (UO 2 )O 2 ·2H 2 O under an applied potential. This solution‐processable microporous polymer electrode exhibits an excellent uranium uptake capacity exceeding 4221 mg g −1 without saturation. The electrode maintains strong reusability and seawater tolerance, enabling rapid and continuous uranium harvesting even at ultratrace concentrations. This work provides a transformative platform for electrochemically‐driven, high‐throughput uranium harvesting from marine resources.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Radioactive element chemistry and processing · Chemical Synthesis and Characterization · Covalent Organic Framework Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Nano‐Tech and Nano‐Bionics University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China

i‐Lab Suzhou Institute of Nano‐Tech and Nano‐Bionics Chinese Academy of Sciences Suzhou China

State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science & College of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Soochow University Suzhou China

Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse School of Environmental Science and Engineering Shandong University Qingdao China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

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