A negatively-charged supramolecular trap for precisely catching strontium ion

Abstract Due to the analogous physicochemical properties and weak coordination ability of alkali and alkaline earth metals, accurate separation of radioactive 90Sr from groundwater or seawater still presents a big challenge in environmental radioactivity remediation. Here we mimic the complexation b...

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Main Authors: Lei Li, Ziyi Liu, Xiaocheng Xu, Lei Xu, Xiaofan Yang, Hanxi Guan, Zhonglong Li, Chengliang Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57844-0
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author Lei Li
Ziyi Liu
Xiaocheng Xu
Lei Xu
Xiaofan Yang
Hanxi Guan
Zhonglong Li
Chengliang Xiao
author_facet Lei Li
Ziyi Liu
Xiaocheng Xu
Lei Xu
Xiaofan Yang
Hanxi Guan
Zhonglong Li
Chengliang Xiao
author_sort Lei Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Due to the analogous physicochemical properties and weak coordination ability of alkali and alkaline earth metals, accurate separation of radioactive 90Sr from groundwater or seawater still presents a big challenge in environmental radioactivity remediation. Here we mimic the complexation behavior of molecular crown-ether carboxylic acids to construct an elegant negatively charged supramolecular trap in an anionic crown ether-based metal-organic framework (ZJU-X99) for precisely catching Sr2+. Owing to the synergistic effects of electrostatic interactions arising from the In(COO)4 - nodes and supramolecular host-guest recognition from the 18-crown-6 rings, ZJU-X99 exhibits rapid adsorption kinetics (1 min), high adsorption capacity (263 mg/g), and exceptional selectivity for Sr2+ even when 1000-fold of Na⁺, K⁺ and Cs⁺ coexist. Relative to alkali metals, Sr2+ ions are intricately ensconced within the supramolecular trap, resulting in lowest binding energy and minimal structural alterations. Dynamic column experiments and radioactive 90Sr decontamination trials further validate its practical application prospects. Our findings offer valuable insights into the design of supramolecular frameworks featuring tailored binding sites for targeted ions.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-b4bb81f664164579bbc6ce35a386262f2025-08-20T03:41:40ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-57844-0A negatively-charged supramolecular trap for precisely catching strontium ionLei Li0Ziyi Liu1Xiaocheng Xu2Lei Xu3Xiaofan Yang4Hanxi Guan5Zhonglong Li6Chengliang Xiao7College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityState Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Liaoning Key Laboratory for Catalytic Conversion of Carbon Resources, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of TechnologyCollege of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Nuclear-Agricultural Science, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Agricultural Sciences of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityCollege of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Zhejiang University-QuzhouCollege of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityCollege of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract Due to the analogous physicochemical properties and weak coordination ability of alkali and alkaline earth metals, accurate separation of radioactive 90Sr from groundwater or seawater still presents a big challenge in environmental radioactivity remediation. Here we mimic the complexation behavior of molecular crown-ether carboxylic acids to construct an elegant negatively charged supramolecular trap in an anionic crown ether-based metal-organic framework (ZJU-X99) for precisely catching Sr2+. Owing to the synergistic effects of electrostatic interactions arising from the In(COO)4 - nodes and supramolecular host-guest recognition from the 18-crown-6 rings, ZJU-X99 exhibits rapid adsorption kinetics (1 min), high adsorption capacity (263 mg/g), and exceptional selectivity for Sr2+ even when 1000-fold of Na⁺, K⁺ and Cs⁺ coexist. Relative to alkali metals, Sr2+ ions are intricately ensconced within the supramolecular trap, resulting in lowest binding energy and minimal structural alterations. Dynamic column experiments and radioactive 90Sr decontamination trials further validate its practical application prospects. Our findings offer valuable insights into the design of supramolecular frameworks featuring tailored binding sites for targeted ions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57844-0
spellingShingle Lei Li
Ziyi Liu
Xiaocheng Xu
Lei Xu
Xiaofan Yang
Hanxi Guan
Zhonglong Li
Chengliang Xiao
A negatively-charged supramolecular trap for precisely catching strontium ion
Nature Communications
title A negatively-charged supramolecular trap for precisely catching strontium ion
title_full A negatively-charged supramolecular trap for precisely catching strontium ion
title_fullStr A negatively-charged supramolecular trap for precisely catching strontium ion
title_full_unstemmed A negatively-charged supramolecular trap for precisely catching strontium ion
title_short A negatively-charged supramolecular trap for precisely catching strontium ion
title_sort negatively charged supramolecular trap for precisely catching strontium ion
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57844-0
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