Amyloid-like coatings decorated electrodes boost the uranium electro-adsorption from seawater

• Amyloid-like coatings provide electrodes with binding sites to uranium and anti-fouling properties. • The modified electrodes achieved equilibrium adsorption capacity as high as 2850 mg/g. • Unfolded BSA coatings enable the electrodes with superior reusability and long-term stability. • Both adsorption capacity and adsorption rates are better than most of other adsorbents. Electro-adsorption has been regarded as one of the most effective methods for uranium extraction from seawater since this method could gather ultralow-concentration uranyl ions at the adsorbent surfaces for higher adsorption capacity and adsorption rates. However, the marine microorganisms and pollutants would also migrate to the adsorbent surfaces, causing serious inhibiting effects. Herein, the pristine electrodes were modified by the convenient amyloid-like assembly to solve the above problem. The unfolded bovine serum albumin (BSA) coatings not only offer adsorption sites toward uranium but also enable the electrodes with excellent anti-fouling and anti-adhesion properties. The modified electrodes achieved superior reusability and long-term stability even with the interferences of various pollutants and microorganisms. To the best of our knowledge, the overlooked but pernicious influences of the fouling phenomenon are firstly investigated in electro-adsorption. This finding not only removes the barriers in the practical applications of electro-adsorption, but also guides the design strategy of adsorbents for uranium extraction.