Advancing porous materials for radioiodine capture

Radioactive iodine, released during nuclear accidents and spent fuel treatment, poses significant threats to ecosystems and human health due to its volatility, persistence, and potential for bioaccumulation. Porous materials with tunable structures and tailored adsorption sites have recently emerged as a promising technology for iodine capture. This paper reviews the progress of research on porous materials for iodine capture, focusing on improvements in iodine capture performance as well as adsorbent stability through innovative structure-function strategies. Finally, we propose innovative directions for future research, including the design of multifunctional composite materials, integration of electrochemical and photocatalytic technologies, and leveraging machine learning for material optimization and performance prediction. These approaches offer new pathways to enhance iodine capture efficiency and advance nuclear safety through more effective radionuclide management approaches.