Ultrafast high-capacity capture and release of uranium by a light-switchable nanotextured surface.

ABSTRACT: Nuclear power is growing in demand as a promising sustainable energy source, its most prevalent source being uranium salts. The resulting processing and transportation of uranium raise concerns regarding the environmental impact and risks for human health. Close proximity to uranium mines puts populations at higher risk for exposure due to elevated uranium concentrations. As the main form of uranium in aqueous solutions, uranyl (UO₂ ²⁺) has been the focus of many methods of uranium sieving; most fall short by being time-consuming or lacking a retrieval mechanism for the captured uranium. Here, we demonstrate the ultrafast and selective uranyl-capturing properties of aptamer-modified branched silicon nanopillar (BSiNP) arrays. Our nanostructured surfaces demonstrate an

SUBMITTER: Borberg E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9419512 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature