Recent progresses of uranyl ion-imprinted materials: Principles, synthesis and applications

With the continuous growth of global energy demand and the non-renewability of traditional fossil fuels, nuclear energy plays an important role in establishing a low-carbon emission and efficient energy system. Uranium, as an important raw material for nuclear energy, has great application value in the industrial and energy fields. The concentration of uranyl ions in uranium-containing wastewater typically ranges from several to tens of mg·L −1 . In contrast, the concentration of uranyl ions in seawater is remarkably low, averaging approximately 3.3 μg·L −1 . This paper provides a comprehensive review of the research progress and chemical foundations of uranyl ion-imprinted materials. It details their preparation processes, classification systems, and experimental characterization methods. Due to their high selectivity and efficient adsorption performance, these materials show significant advantages in extracting and separating uranyl ions from complex environments. Different types of uranyl ion-imprinted materials, such as amorphous porous uranyl ion-imprinted materials, crystalline porous uranyl ion-imprinted material, biobased uranyl ion-imprinted materials and surface uranyl ion-imprinted materials have shown broad application prospects. However, high-performance materials often rely on expensive monomers or complex synthesis, limiting large-scale preparation. The processes of elution and adsorption may potentially cause damage to the imprinted sites, thereby adversely affecting the service life. Future research endeavors should prioritize the development of cost-effective monomers alongside streamlined synthesis processes. Furthermore, increased efforts should be directed toward promoting material testing within complex systems, while concurrently establishing standardized protocols for unified performance evaluation. Through ongoing research and technological breakthroughs, these materials are poised to assume an increasingly pivotal role in the nuclear industry. • Chemical basis of imprinted cavities for precise uranyl ion capture is analyzed. • Synthetic strategies and classification systems are summarized. • Characterization methods from molecular to macroscopic scales are covered. • Future prospects are analyzed to showcase potential and challenges.