Synergy of photocatalytic reduction and adsorption for boosting uranium removal with PMo12/UiO-66 heterojunction

In this work, we proposed a new U(VI) removal strategy combining adsorption and photocatalytic reduction by the PMo12/UiO-66 heterojunctions. The PMo12 has been encapsulated in the cavities of UiO-66 by a one-step hydrothermal method, and the PMo12/UiO-66 exhibited high adsorption capacity and photocatalytic activity. The maximal theoretical sorption capacity of U(VI) on 15% PMo12/UiO-66 reached 225.36 mg/g and the photoreduction rate of 15% PMo12/UiO-66 is about thirty times as much as UiO-66. Under the light irradiation, the photogenerated electrons rapidly transport from UiO-66 to PMo12, and the photo-generated electrons could efficiently reduce the pre-enriched U(VI) to U(IV). This work provides new insights into remediation of the radioactive environment.