Engineering triangular binding pockets for efficient extraction of uranyl complexes from natural water

Natural aquatic systems harbour the world’s largest uranium reserves, a pivotal raw material underpinning the nuclear industry, sufficient to sustain global nuclear energy demand for millennia into the future. However, uranium extraction remains extremely challenging, attributed that uranium species form stable complexes with interfering substances (for example, CO 3 2− , Ca 2+ ), whereas conventional active moieties (adsorptive, catalytic) fail to interact effectively with the uranium core. Here we report a series of stable, selective and tunable adsorptive porous polymers that feature triangular binding pockets fabricated with metalloporphyrin as the wall components. The resulting adsorbent exhibits high uranium extraction capability with a removal efficiency over 96% in 1,500 min by robust micropore confinement and multi-coordination between CO 3 2− and the porphyrin cation. We demonstrate highly efficient uranium extraction from various natural waters (lake, salt lake brine and seawater) with a capacity as high as 79.8 mg g −1 (24 days). This binding pocket design concept holds broad applicability for the rational design of versatile adsorbent materials, spanning electrochemical devices and precise molecular separation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

We are sorry, but there is no personal subscription option available for your country.

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

The authors declare that the main data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its Supplementary Information files. Extra data are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Chu, S. & Majumdar, A. Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future. Nature 488 , 294 (2012).

Hoffert, M. I. et al. Advanced technology paths to global climate stability: energy for a greenhouse planet. Science 298 , 981 (2002).

Keener, M. et al. Redox-switchable carboranes for uranium capture and release. Nature 577 , 652, 655 (2020).

Wang, Y. et al. Bipolar electrochemical uranium extraction from seawater with ultra-low cell voltage. Nat. Sustain. 8 , 682, 691 (2025).

Liu, C. et al. A half-wave rectified alternating current electrochemical method for uranium extraction from seawater. Nat. Energy 2 , 17007 (2017).

Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2050 IAEA-RDS-1/36 (IAEA, 2016).

Davies, R. V. et al. Extraction of uranium from sea water. Nature 203 , 1110, 1115 (1964).

Abney, C. W. et al. Materials for the recovery of uranium from seawater. Chem. Rev. 117 , 13935, 14013 (2017).

Li, Z. N. et al. Constructing amidoxime-modified porous adsorbents with open architecture for cost-effective and efficient uranium extraction. Chem. Sci. 11 , 4747 (2020).

Zhao, Y. X. et al. Construction of layer-blocked covalent organic framework heterogenous films via surface-initiated polycondensations with strongly enhanced photocatalytic properties. ACS Cent. Sci. 10 , 775, 781 (2024).

Hu, E. M. et al. Cyano-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride with adsorption and photoreduction isosite achieving efficient uranium extraction from seawater. Adv. Funct. Mater. 34 , 2312215 (2024).

Zhang, H. et al. Three mechanisms in one material: uranium capture by a polyoxometalate, organic framework through combined complexation, chemical reduction, and photocatalytic reduction. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 58 , 16110, 16114 (2019).

Cui, W. R. et al. Low band gap benzoxazole-linked covalent organic frameworks for photo-enhanced targeted uranium recovery. Small 17 , 2006882 (2021).

Yuan, Y. et al. Photoinduced multiple effects to enhance uranium extraction from natural seawater by black phosphorus nanosheets. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 59 , 1220, 1227 (2020).

Yuan, Y. et al. High-capacity uranium extraction from seawater through constructing synergistic multiple dynamic bonds. Nat. Water 3 , 89, 98 (2025).

Wang, H. et al. Adsorption of uranium(VI) complexes with polymer-based spherical activated carbon. Water Res. 249 , 120825 (2024).

Zhong, G. R. et al. A global monthly 3D field of seawater pH over 3 decades: a machine learning approach. Earth Syst. Sci. Data 17 , 719, 740 (2025).

Endrizzi, F. et al. Chemical speciation of uranium(VI) in marine environments: complexation of calcium and magnesium ions with [(UO 2 )(CO 3 ) 3 ] 4− and the effect on the extraction of uranium from seawater. Chem. A Eur. J. 20 , 14499, 14506 (2014).

He, W. et al. Amidoxime-functionalized hollow 2D-COFs for uranium separation. Sep. Purif. Technol. 331 , 125620 (2024).

Yuan, Y. et al. Designed synthesis and characterization of novel germanium centered porous aromatic frameworks (Ge-PAFs). Acta Chim. Sin. 70 , 1446, 1450 (2012).

Lu, T. et al. Lattice expansion of hybrid perovskite inhibits halogen interstitial generation and enhances solar cell performance. Nat. Commun. 16 , 8591 (2025).

Cheng, K. et al. Integrating multifunctionalities into a 3D covalent organic framework for efficient CO 2 photoreduction. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 64 , e202504772 (2025).

Du, W. et al. Ultrathin free-standing porous aromatic framework membranes for efficient anion transport. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 63 , e202402943 (2024).

Liu, W. et al. Facile strategy to separate uranium(VI) using glued Amidoxime-functionalized composite beads synthesized from aqueous solution. Sep. Purif. Technol. 293 , 121132 (2022).

Ma, S. et al. Efficient uranium capture by polysulfide/layered double hydroxide composites. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 137 , 3670, 3677 (2015).

Chen, D. et al. Bio-inspired functionalization of electrospun nanofibers with anti-biofouling property for efficient uranium extraction from seawater. Chem. Eng. J. 465 , 142844 (2023).

Wang, Y. et al. Ultra-high flexibility amidoximated ethylene acrylic acid copolymer film synthesized by the mixed melting method for uranium adsorption from simulated seawater. J. Hazard. Mater. 426 , 127808 (2022).

Cheng, G. et al. Extremely stable amidoxime functionalized covalent organic frameworks for uranium extraction from seawater with high efficiency and selectivity. Sci. Bull. 66 , 1994, 2001 (2021).

Yuan, Y. et al. A bio-inspired nano-pocket spatial structure for targeting uranyl capture. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 59 , 4262 (2020).

Zhang, D. et al. Highly efficient extraction of uranium from seawater by polyamide and amidoxime co-functionalized MXene. Environ. Pollut. 317 , 120826 (2023).

Cao, D. et al. Constructing biomimetic nanochannels for high-capacity capture of uranyl tricarbonate complex Ions. Adv. Mater. 37 , 2500567 (2025).

Chen, Y. et al. Modulating electronic density of single-atom Ni center by heteroatoms for efficient CO 2 electroreduction. Small 21 , 2411249 (2025).

Yu, K. et al. Two-stage ligand exchange in Mn(III)-based porphyrinic metal−organic frameworks for fluorescence water sensing. Sens. Actuators B 362 , 131808 (2022).

Jin, Z. et al. Boosting electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction via self-relaxation of asymmetric coordination in Fe-based single atom catalyst. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 63 , e202318246 (2024).

Li, M. et al. Sp-hybridized nitrogen as new anchoring sites of iron single atoms to boost the oxygen reduction reaction. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 61 , e202208238 (2022).

Xu, C. et al. Synergistic engineering of electron-enriched nickel sites for highly efficient photocatalytic CO 2 reduction to C 2 H 6 . Adv. Funct. Mater. 35 , 2414893 (2025).

Zhang, C. et al. Overcoming chemical dissociation processes: electrochemical modulation of high-affinity binding sites for rapid uranium extraction from seawater. Adv. Funct. Mater. 35 , 2412712 (2025).

Kütahyalı, C. et al. Selective adsorption of uranium from aqueous solutions using activated carbon prepared from charcoal by chemical activation. Sep. Purif. Technol. 40 , 109, 114 (2004).

Smedley, P. et al. Uranium in natural waters and the environment: distribution, speciation and impact. Appl. Geochem. 148 , 105534 (2023).

Yang, L. et al. A marine bacteria-inspired electrochemical regulation for continuous uranium extraction from seawater and salt lake brine. Chem. Sci. 15 , 4538 (2024).

He, X. et al. Effect of pine resin derivatives on the structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of mater-bi type bioplastic. ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 5 , 4380, 4387 (2023).

Ping, R. et al. Metalloporphyrin and triazine integrated nitrogen-rich frameworks as high-performance platform for CO 2 adsorption and conversion under ambient pressure. Sep. Purif. Technol. 310 , 123151 (2023).

Yuan, Y. et al. Molecularly imprinted porous aromatic frameworks and their composite components for selective extraction of uranium ions. Adv. Mater. 30 , 1706507 (2018).

Yuan, Y. & Zhu, G. Porous aromatic frameworks as a platform for multifunctional applications. ACS Cent. Sci. 5 , 409, 418 (2019).

Dou, C. et al. Engineering triangular binding pockets for efficient extraction of uranyl complexes from natural water. Figshare https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.31337845 (2026).

This research was funded by the Science and Technology Development Plan Project of Jilin Province, China (20250101008JJ), National Natural Science Foundation of China (22322501), Science and Technology Research Project from the Education Department of Jilin Province (JJKH20250310KJ) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2412025QG002) (Y. Yuan) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (22131004 and U21A20330) and the ‘111’ project (B18012) (G.Z.).

Key Laboratory of Polyoxometalate and Reticular Material Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China

Doudou Cao, Cheng Zhang, Sirui Li, Yingbo Song, Jiarui Cao, Lu Luo, Xinbo Li, Ye Yuan & Guangshan Zhu

Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of Ministry of Education and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China

D.C., Y. Yuan and G.Z. conceived the project and designed the methodology. D.C., C.Z., S.L., Y.S., J.C., L.L., X.L. and Y.Z. carried out the experiments. Y. Yuan and G.Z. supervised the experiments. D.C. and Y. Yang wrote and edited the paper, and all authors reviewed and approved the final version of the paper.

Nature Water thanks the anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Figs. 1, 52, references, Tables 1, 16, materials and characterizations.

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Cao, D., Zhang, C., Li, S. et al. Engineering triangular binding pockets for efficient extraction of uranyl complexes from natural water. Nat Water (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-026-00688-9