Abstract
Reduction of soluble U(VI) to insoluble U(IV) based on semiconductor photocatalysts is a favored U(VI)-extraction method, because of its simplicity, environmental friendliness, and high efficiency. The key to implement this technology is the development of efficient photocatalysts with high activity and stability for sacrificial agents-free U(VI) photoreduction. Herein, we report a new type of CdS/covalent organic framework (COF) core-shell photocatalysts (CdS@COF-X, X = 5, 10, 15, and 20) with efficient chemisorption, enhanced carrier separation, and antiphotocorrosion ability for U(VI) photoreduction without additional sacrificial agents. The two-dimensional COF, formed by the polycondensation of 2,4,6-triformylphloroglucinol and 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)triazine, was selected to construct the hybrid materials due to its high chemical stability, matching band gaps and efficient chemisorption for U(VI). Remarkably, CdS@COF-10 realized a record high U(VI) extraction capacity of 1825.6 mg g−1 after 90 min. Moreover, the reduction ratio of uranium was up to 82.5%, and the product was identified as uranium dioxide (UO2) after reaction. Further mechanistic studies indicated that the COF shell not only provided chemisorption sites for U(VI) to decrease the activation energy of U(VI) reduction, but also formed a strong built-in electric field at the interface with the CdS core to promote the carrier separation. More importantly, for all CdS@COF-X, CdS-COF-10 with appropriate COF shell content balanced the crystallinity, interfacial contact integrity, light absorption of CdS core, and number of U(VI) chemisorption sites, achieving the highest carrier separation efficiency and U(VI) photoreduction performance.
摘要
基于半导体光催化剂将可溶的六价铀(U(VI))还原为不可溶的四 价铀(U(IV))是一种简便、环保、高效的铀提取方法. 实现该技术的关 键是开发在无牺牲剂情况下对于光催化还原铀具有高活性和稳定性的 催化剂. 本文报道了一种新型CdS/COF核壳结构光催化剂(CdS@COF-10), 该催化剂具有高效的化学吸附、增强的载流子分离和抗光腐蚀能 力, 无需额外的牺牲剂即可用于高效的光催化还原铀. COF壳层不仅为 U(VI)提供了化学吸附位点, 降低了U(VI)还原的活化能, 而且在与CdS 核的界面处形成了内建电场, 促进了载流子的分离. 更重要的是, 具有 适当COF壳含量的CdS-COF-10在结晶度、界面接触完整性、CdS核的 光吸收和U(VI)化学吸附位点数量之间取得了平衡, 获得了最高的载流 子分离效率和光催化还原铀性能.
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Acknowledgements This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22125605, 21976125, 22206137 and U2067211) and Sichuan University Postdoctoral Interdisciplinary Innovation Fund (10822041A2127). The authors thank Dr. Yue Qi for the XRD measurements at the Comprehensive Training Platform of the Specialized Laboratory at the College of Chemistry, Sichuan University. The authors are also grateful to Shiyanjia Lab (www.shiyanjia.com) for the PL, TEM, NMR, and XPS analysis. The support from the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities and the Comprehensive Training Platform Specialized Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, is gratefully acknowledged.
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Author contributions Yu K, Li Y, and Ma L designed the studies and wrote the paper. Yu K, He N, Dong C, and Jiang B synthesized the catalysts and performed the catalytic tests with support from Li X. Yu K, Zou Y, and Pei X performed material characterizations. He P performed DFT calculations. All authors contributed to the general discussion.
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Supplementary information Experimental details and supporting data are available in the online version of the paper.
Kaifu Yu received his BSc (2018) and MSc (2021) degrees from the School of National Defence & Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology. He is currently a PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Lijian Ma at the College of Chemistry, Sichuan University. His present research interest focuses on the design of covalent organic frameworks and their application in uranium extraction.
Pan He received his MSc degree in 2023 from the School of National Defence & Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology. He is currently pursuing his PhD degree under the supervision of Prof. Lijian Ma at the College of Chemistry, Sichuan University. His present research interest focuses on the design of semiconductor photocatalysts towards U(VI) reduction.
Lijian Ma is currently a professor at the College of Chemistry, Sichuan University. He received his PhD degree in functional molecular chemistry from Okayama University in 2010. His research interests include (1) the design, synthesis, and application of covalent organic frameworks, (2) the preparation and separation performance of membrane materials, and (3) the novel separation methods and materials in radiochemistry.
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CdS/COF Core-Shell Nanorods with Efficient Chemisorption, Enhanced Carrier Separation, and Antiphotocorrosion Ability for U(VI) Photoreduction
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Yu, K., He, P., He, N. et al. CdS/COF core-shell nanorods with efficient chemisorption, enhanced carrier separation, and antiphotocorrosion ability for U(VI) photoreduction. Sci. China Mater. 66, 4680–4688 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-023-2599-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-023-2599-9