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This work assesses the enrichment and organification of tritium by algae and the transfer along the marine food chain, suggesting human health risks and highlighting the importance of radioactive isotope management.

A micronuclear battery is built based on an autoluminescent americium–terbium compound that couples radioisotopes with energy transducers at the molecular level, resulting in an 8,000-fold enhancement in energy conversion efficiency.

In vivo decorporation of U(VI) from bones is an unsolved challenge because of the formation of stable uranium phosphate complexes. Here, the authors develop a hydroxypyridonone-based ligand with strong uranium complexation and low cytotoxicity. They find this ligand effectively removes uranium from kidney and bones in mice, and is suitable for oral administration.

It is extremely difficult to separate tritium from radioactively contaminated water. Here the authors introduce catalytic hydrogen isotope exchange to water distillation, realizing excellent detritiation performance.

Trivalent lanthanides possess similar chemical properties, making their separation from one another challenging. Here, Wang and colleagues demonstrate that their subtle chemical differences can be greatly amplified during borate crystallization, leading to a low cost and highly efficient separation strategy.

Studying the nature of actinide-actinide bonds is important for understanding the electronic structure of the 5f elements, but the synthesis of these chemical bonds remains extremely challenging. Here, the authors report a strong covalent Th-Th bond formed between two rarely accessible Th³⁺ ions, stabilized inside a fullerene cage.

While metal–carbon double bonds are common in transition metal chemistry and catalysis, unsupported uranium–carbon double bonds remain highly challenging to prepare. Here, the authors stabilize and characterize a U=C=U cluster containing unusually short, unsupported double bonds inside an I_h(7)-C₈₀ fullerene cage.

Radiation dosimeters that measure ionizing radiations over a broad range and allow for direct readout are desirable. Here, the authors present a dual-mode photochromic thorium-based metal-organic nanocluster that enables direct visible colorimetric dosimetry of UV, β-ray, and γ-ray radiation.

A new strategy to separate radioactive americium from lanthanides based on complexation with polyoxometalates and ultrafiltration technique is highly efficient and rapid, does not involve any organic components and requires minimal energy input.

Zirconium phosphonate based metal-organic frameworks often exhibit superior chemical stabilities, but typically exist as poorly crystalline or amorphous materials. Here the authors exploit an ionothermal method to obtain highly porous and remarkably stable single crystalline zirconium phosphonate frameworks that can efficiently remove uranyl ions from aqueous solutions.

Alternative extraction methods are urgently needed for a sustainable supply of rubidium. Now research presents a ripening-coupled strategy for efficient rubidium extraction with low energy consumption.

Heterometallic clusters have shown promise in catalysis and small-molecule activation, but species comprising uranium–metal bonds have remained difficult to synthesize. Now, facile reactions between uranium and nickel precursors have led to nickel-bridged diuranium clusters supported by a heptadentate N₄P₃ scaffold. Computational analysis points to an unusual electronic configuration for uranium, U(iii)-5f²6d¹.

The elimination of specific contaminants from high concentrations of competitors poses a significant challenge. Here the authors find that modifying the local environment of the direct contact site alters the interaction of a pyridinium-based anion nanotrap with pertechnetate.

Cationic metal-organic frameworks provide promising opportunities to capture anionic pollutants, but stable frameworks with sufficiently large pores are lacking. Here the authors present a thorium-based mesoporous, cationic and hydrolytically-stable MOF that can rapidly trap inorganic and organic anionic pollutants.

The synthesis and isolation of uranium(VI) nitride complexes remains challenging. Here, the authors report an example of transition metal (TM) stabilized U(VI) nitride complexes, generated via photolysis of azide-bridged U(IV)-TM precursors.

Separation of ⁹⁹TcO₄⁻ from nuclear waste at the Savannah River Site is hampered by the extreme conditions. Here, the authors propose a solution by developing an alkaline-resistant metal organic framework material featuring unique recognition sites for selective incorporation of ⁹⁹TcO₄⁻ anions.

Direct methanol fuel cells are promising for clean, sustainable energy, but catalysts should be optimized. Here the authors construct ultrathin nanoframes with rich crystalline defects to increase electrocatalytic activity of gold for methanol oxidation, which is surprisingly promoted by carbon monoxide.

While chemical bonding between carbon and the d- and p-block elements is relatively well-studied, that between carbon and the f-block elements remains comparatively poorly understood. Here, the authors synthesize a series of uranium−carbone complexes in which carbon forms an unprecedented double dative bond to uranium.

Direct removal of ⁹⁹TcO₄⁻ from highly radioactive and acidic nuclear waste solutions is beneficial for uranium and plutonium recovery and radioactive pollution control but this represents a huge challenge. Here the authors show a cationic polymeric network with high ⁹⁹TcO₄⁻ sorption capability and stability.

Lanthanide ions possess similar chemical properties, making their separation from one another challenging. Here the authors show that a tris-tridentate ligand causes high-precision metal ion self-sorting, leading to the selective assembly of tetrahedral M₄L₄ cages across the lanthanide series.

Preorganization is an effective strategy for f-element separation, but the complexity of extractant synthesis hinders large-scale application. Here the authors discuss an alternative strategy induced by in situ self-assembly that borrows principles of multivalent cooperativity from Nature to separate f-elements.