Chinese-led team creates self-propelling material for uranium extraction from seawater

Chinese researchers developed a light-driven, MOF-based micromotor that can self-propel in water and capture uranium ions.

In lab tests, the material showed efficient uranium uptake and could convert collected uranium into a stable form.

The approach could offer a more efficient route to harvest uranium from seawater and support nuclear fuel supply.

Major hurdles remain, especially scaling the technology and maintaining performance in highly saline seawater.