Zr-MOF Crosslinked Hydrogel for High-Efficiency Decontamination of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulant

The decontamination of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) from contaminated surfaces is of critical importance due to the severe threats posed by CWAs to human health and the environment, particularly given the persistent threat of chemical weapons since World War I. In this study, a novel UiO-66-NH2 crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel was developed in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol under ambient conditions, leveraging the dual functionality of the amino-substituted zirconium-based metal–organic framework (Zr-MOF) as both a crosslinker and a catalytic site. The hydrogel demonstrated exceptional catalytic performance, achieving a degradation efficiency of over 90% for the chemical warfare agent simulant dimethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP) within 1 h. Furthermore, the hydrogel demonstrated adequate mechanical and tensile strength for practical use, enabling easy peel-off from various contaminated surfaces without leaving residues. This peelable property, combined with its decontamination capabilities, highlights its significant potential for practical applications in the field of CWA decontamination.