An Animal-fur inspired strategy boosts electrochemical uranium extraction from seawater

Abstract

Extracting uranium from seawater presents an almost inexhaustible fuel source for sustainable nuclear energy, but is hindered by its ultra-low concentration and complex ionic matrix. Inspired by the hierarchical and breathable structure of mammalian fur, which balances large surface area with efficient mass transport, we fabricated a self-supporting, integrated laser-induced graphene-amidoxime (LIG-AO) electrode that unifies conduction, adsorption, and mass transport into a hierarchical porous architecture. Via uranium extraction cell (UEC), this electrode achieved a uranium uptake of 99% within 48 h from 10 ppm simulated wastewater, and over 73% from natural seawater within 4 days—while simultaneously generating electricity—along with high selectivity and robust stability in untreated seawater under 7 days of continuous operation. More importantly, via multi-scale characterization and simulation, we illustrate the mechanisms underlying its high performance: the hair-cluster structure facilitates electrochemical pre-concentration of uranyl ions at the electrode surface, overcoming diffusion limitations caused by low concentration; topological defects introduced by laser synergistically boost the amidoxime groups' binding affinity for uranyl ions. This work demonstrates a bio-inspired strategy for designing high-performance electrochemical interfaces through structural and defect engineering, offering broad implications for resource recovery and energy technologies.