Metal-organic cages for efficient capture and convenient detection of iodine from vapor and aqueous solutions

In the pursuit of advancing radioactive waste management and mitigating the risks associated with nuclear accidents, the development of effective adsorbents for the removal of radioactive iodine from the environment is paramount. This study presents the synthesis and characterization of two metal–organic cages (MOCs) tailored for the efficient adsorption of volatile iodine vapor and iodine from aqueous solutions. The prepared MOCs exhibited efficient adsorption capacities for iodine vapor and iodine in water. Experimental and theoretical analyses underscored the significance of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions in augmenting the iodine adsorption efficacy from aqueous solutions, providing valuable insights into the design of high-capacity iodine adsorption materials for aqueous environments. Furthermore, MOC-coated test strips were developed, enabling rapid, convenient, and sensitive detection of iodine vapor and iodine in aqueous solutions through the integration of fluorescent elements. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents a pioneering example of MOCs proficient in both adsorbing and detecting iodine vapor and iodine in aqueous solutions.