A functional material with iron species loaded on the layered framework of zirconium phosphate, which effectively limits iron migration and agglomeration (Fe³⁺ leaching in heterogeneous catalysis can be reduced to below 5%) and tunes iron electron density through surface hydroxyl coordination to enhance redox activity; the pH-buffering ability of zirconium phosphate keeps the iron species active over a wide pH range of 3–9. Uses include heavy-metal adsorption (strong coordination affinity for As³⁺/As⁵⁺ and Cr⁶⁺, retaining over 80% efficiency after more than 10 acid-washed reuse cycles), degradation of organic pollutants (heterogeneous Fenton catalysis), denitrification and desulphurisation, stabilisation of heavy metals in soil, remediation of organic contamination in groundwater, long-acting antibacterial applications and lithium battery cathode materials.
