Selective crystallization of a highly radiation-resistant isonicotinic acid-based metal-organic framework as a primary actinide waste form

Isonicotinic acid (INA), as a prototypical N, O-donor bifunctional ligand, has demonstrated its ability to differentiate Th4+ from representative ions for products in spent nuclear fuels (Cs+, Ba2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Pd2+, ReO4-, La3+, Ce3+, Ce4+, UO22+), yielding an actinide metal-organic framework (An-MOF), Th-INA-1, by selective crystallization. This unprecedented motif with the highest ligand-binding number (i.e., 16) shows promise as a primary waste form due to its structural integrity, especially upon irradiation up to 6 MGy γ-or β-irradiation.