Engineering a defect-rich Prussian blue analog composite for enhanced Cs+ removal performance

Using a novel, irregular honeycombed N-doped porous carbon (NPC) as a support and defect inducer, defect-rich Zn-PBA was formed in situ and evenly anchored on the surface of NPC to obtain a defect-rich Zn-PBA/NPC composite. This composite demonstrated an ultrafast Cs⁺ adsorption rate that reached equilibrium within 60 s as well as excellent adsorption capacity, stability and reusability. The adsorption mechanism indicated that Cs⁺ was quickly adsorbed via the defect sites close to the Zn-PBA crystal face accompanied by K(OH₂)⁺ elimination.