Enhanced Iodine Capture Via Covalently Integrated Nh2-Uio-66@Za-Cof Hybrid Structures

Abstract

Nuclear power remains a vital energy source but poses significant challenges in waste management and the containment of radioactive materials. Iodine, a byproduct of uranium fission, presents substantial risks to human health and the environment due to its long half-life and radioactivity. Developing safe, effective, and affordable methods for iodine waste storage is critical. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)@Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) hybrid materials combine the advantages of MOFs and COFs, with synergistic effects at the MOF-COF interface enhancing their performance. In this study, a novel NH2-UiO-66@ZA-COF hybrid material was fabricated by in-situ growth of a ZA-COF shell on the NH2-UiO-66 core via a Schiff-based reaction. The covalently connected core-shell structure features an interface that can be finely tuned by adjusting the ZA-COF coating amount, significantly impacting iodine adsorption. The hybrid material demonstrated an exceptional iodine vapor uptake of 5.63 g⋅g−1, increasing with higher ZA-COF coverage. This work highlights the potential of rationally designed MOF@COF hybrids to achieve superior adsorption performance, providing a promising solution for radioactive iodine containment in nuclear waste management.

Keywords: Keywords: MOF@COF hybrids, Radioactive iodine containment, NH2-UiO-66@ZA-COF, Schiff-based reaction, Iodine adsorption capacity