Covalent Organic Framework Sponges for Efficient Solar Desalination and Selective Uranium Recovery

Energy and fresh water are essential for the sustainable development of human society, and both could be obtained from seawater. Herein, we explored the first covalent organic framework (COF) sponge (named BHMS) by in situ loading the benzoxazole-linked COF (DBD-BTTH) onto a porous polymer scaffold (polydimethylsiloxane) as a synergistic platform for efficient solar desalination and selective uranium recovery. In natural seawater, BHMS shows a high evaporation rate (1.39 kg m(-2) h(-1)) and an exceptional uranium recovery capacity (5.14 +/- 0.15 mg g(-1)) under 1 sun, which are due to its desirable inbuilt structural hierarchy and elastic macroporous open cells providing adequate water transport, increased evaporation sites of seawater, and selective binding sites of uranyl. Besides, the excellent photothermal performance and photocatalytic activity endow the BHMS with high solar desalination efficiency and excellent anti-biofouling activity and promote selective coordination of uranyl.

Automated summary

Researchers have developed a novel COF sponge for efficient solar desalination and selective uranium recovery, utilizing its structural hierarchy and elastic macroporous cells to facilitate water transport, increase evaporation sites, and provide selective binding sites for uranyl.