Local polarity modulation in triangular pores of covalent organic frameworks for iodine capture from water.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42161991.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-73328-1.
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Abstract
Radioactive iodine from nuclear fission processes can enter water systems in various ways, adversely affecting human health and the environment. Herein, we construct a series of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with triangular pores and different local polarities for efficient iodine (I<sub>2</sub> + I<sup>-</sup> ⇌ I<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>) capture from aqueous solution. Triangular pores containing weakly polar units show a strong affinity for nonpolar iodine via hydrophobic interactions, whilst the periodically ordered frameworks and intrinsic interlayers based on aromatic moieties and nitrogen-containing groups capture I<sub>2</sub> and I<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> through van der Waals forces and charge transfer. COF-1 with weak local polarity delivers a high iodine (<sup>131</sup>I) adsorption capacity, fast adsorption kinetics, and excellent selectivity in tap water, groundwater, and seawater. Moreover, COF-1 exhibits an exceptional trace iodine removal efficiency (from ~200 ppb to below ~65.9 ppb in tap water and ~58.3 ppb in groundwater), making it a promising adsorbent for efficiently treating aqueous iodine waste streams.