Robust covalent organic frameworks with tailor-made chelating sites for synergistic capture of U(VI) ions from highly acidic radioactive waste.

A synergistic strategy for enhancing U(vi) capture under highly acidic conditions (2 M HNO3) by radiation resistant phosphonate-functionalized two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks with tailor-made binding sites bearing a strong affinity was described. The combination of the radiation resistant characteristic with a strong acid-resistant property endows COFs with practical capabilities for actinide capture from real radioactive liquid waste.