• • H-Nb2O5−x achieves 99.1% uranium extraction efficiency in 30 g L−1 fluoride solution, outperforming conventional adsorbents that suffer from competitive fluoride complexation.
• • In a 10-L real nuclear wastewater trial, the electrode maintained stable operation for 40 days, reducing uranium from 1372.3 mg L−1 to 0.93 mg L−1 (99.93% removal), demonstrating industrial viability.
• • The material is synthesized from commercial bulk niobium oxide via rapid reconstruction, enabling cost-effective scale-up compared to complex nanostructured electrodes.
• • The intrinsic Nb4+ active sites and compact oxygen structure provide strong binding to uranyl fluoride species, ensuring high selectivity and long-term stability under harsh fluorine conditions.