Nuclear fuel: China unlocks 40 times more efficient seawater uranium extraction

China is facing a critical uranium shortage as its nuclear power demand grows. To address this, scientists have developed a new technology that improves uranium extraction from seawater by 40 times. The breakthrough uses metal-organic frameworks with integrated hydrocarbon molecules to selectively capture uranium ions. This could provide China with a sustainable, independent uranium supply for its expanding nuclear energy infrastructure. The country aims to achieve industrial-scale seawater uranium production by 2050.