Intelligent nanospheres with potential-triggered undamaged regeneration ability and superparamagnetism for selective separation of cesium ion

•A novel electromagnetic coupling regeneration process is proposed.•The intelligently nanospheres exhibit excellently undamaged-regeneration ability.•The excellently undamaged-regeneration mechanism is illuminated.•The intelligently nanospheres show rapid cesium ion insertion/release kinetics.

Intelligently magnetic nanospheres with potential-triggered undamaged regeneration ability and superparamagnetism for selective Cs+ separation and recovery are synthesized. Each nanosphere is composed of Prussian blue (PB) with strong Cs+ affinity modified magnetic Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@PB). The magnetic Fe3O4@PB nanospheres show rapid Cesium ion (Cs+) insertion/release kinetics, which is attributed to the good affinity of PB toward Cs+ and the large specific surface area. The Cs+ adsorbed nanospheres can be easily regenerated by simply switching potential of magnetic electrode in an electromagnetic coupling regeneration reactor. Excitingly, the Cs+ adsorption capacity is nearly invariable after 20 adsorption-regeneration cycles and a high regeneration efficiency over 99% is maintained in each cycle. The smart regeneration mechanism is clarified by electrochemical experiment and advanced quantum chemistry calculation. This intelligently magnetic nanospheres with potential-triggered undamaged regeneration ability should be a promising alternative materials for selective separation and recovery of metal ions from wastewater.

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