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Beijing University

Breakthrough in Photocatalysis: Pioneering Research in Uranium Remediation

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Recent research published in the Angewandte Chemie International Edition has made a significant breakthrough in photocatalysis, specifically in the removal of uranium from water. The study, led by researchers from Peking University, has demonstrated the efficacy of a novel photocatalyst in immobilizing high-toxic and radioactive uranium under simulated solar light. The research has been hailed as a significant step towards developing more efficient and green technologies for radionuclide remediation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research focuses on developing photocatalysts with elevated conduction band (CB) potential and rapid charge carrier separation rate to efficiently immobilize high-toxic and radioactive uranium.
  • The team from Peking University has proposed spin-state engineering in d WO through (110) facet-confined oxygen vacancies (OVs), which induces low-spin W (d) generation and elevates CB by -0.86 V versus NHE.
  • Experiments and theoretical calculations confirm that the developed (110)-WO achieves high photocatalytic activity for U(VI) removal from water, with a reduction efficiency of 98.0% and a reaction rate constant (k) of 0.022 min.
  • This work pioneers atomic-scale spin-orbital synergy in d photocatalysis, offering a novel strategy for radionuclide remediation.
  • Funders for this research include the Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality, and National Key Research and Development Program of China.
  • The researchers used density functional theory (DFT) calculations combined with femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs-TAS) to investigate the charge carrier recombination pathway and interfacial charge transfer.

Statistics:

  • 98.0% reduction efficiency for U(VI) removal from water
  • k = 0.022 min, which is 4.1 times higher than the conventional WO
  • The developed (110)-WO demonstrates enhanced interfacial charge transfer via O bridging between W 5d and U 5f

Sources:

  • Low-Spin WIII-Triggered Triplet Spin-Polarized Electron Delocalization of Tungsten Oxide for Photocatalytic Reduction of Uranium. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025.
  • Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China
  • Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China
  • Peking University, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
  • Angewandte Chemie International Edition, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1521-3773

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