Selective heterogeneous capture and release of actinides using carborane-functionalized electrodes.

Abstract

We report the heterogenization of molecular, electrochemically switchable ortho-substituted carboranes (POCb, POCb-Pyr) for selective metal capture. Films of POCb and POCb-Pyr on glassy carbon and carbon fiber (CF) electrodes demonstrated heterogeneous electrochemical behaviour that was enhanced by the inclusion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Galvanostatically charged CF|CNT|POCb and CF|CNT|POCb-Pyr electrodes selectively captured and released actinides (Th4+, UO22+) from mixed solutions containing alkali (Cs+), lanthanide (Nd3+, Sm3+) and actinide (Th4+, UO22+) metal ions.