Amino functionalization of porous aromatic frameworks for efficient and stable iodine adsorption

In view of the excellent stability, ultra-high specific surface area, and structural versatility, porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) have shown promising potential in gaseous iodine adsorption. Herein, PAF-1 and PAF-5 were synthesized with high specific surface areas. Amino groups as effective binding sites were introduced to these frameworks through post-modification, which facilitated a shift from simple physical adsorption of iodine vapor to a more robust chemical adsorption process. Meanwhile, PAF-6 was synthesized from nitrogen-rich monomers to demonstrate the role of N-binding site in iodine adsorption. PAF-6 exhibited the highest iodine adsorption capacity, verifying the critical role of N-adsorption active sites. The in situ synthesis of nitrogen-rich porous material show advantages over post-modification in creating effective iodine adsorbents. This work highlights the potential of PAFs as a promising material for the adsorption and fixation of radioactive iodine.