Atomic-Level Regulation of Cobalt Single-Atom Nanozymes: Engineering High-Efficiency Catalase Mimics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Catalysis

Background:

• Nanozymes are engineered nanomaterials designed to mimic natural enzymes.
• Current nanozymes often exhibit lower catalytic performance compared to their natural counterparts.
• Optimizing the active sites of nanozymes is crucial for enhancing their efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of atomic configuration on the catalytic performance of cobalt single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes).
• To develop a rational design strategy for engineering SAzymes with improved enzyme-like activity.
• To establish a structure-performance correlation for SAzyme optimization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized theoretical calculations to guide the design of active sites in cobalt SAzymes.
• Synthesized and characterized cobalt SAzymes with precise control over atomic configurations.
• Evaluated the catalase-like activity and kinetics of engineered SAzymes and compared them with controls.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated that precise control over the atomic configuration of Co-N3 active sites significantly enhances catalase-like activity.
• The constructed Co-N3 PS SAzyme showed superior catalytic performance compared to other Co-based SAzymes with varied atomic structures.
• Developed an ordered structure-oriented coordination design strategy for SAzyme engineering.

Conclusions:

• Precise control over the atomic configuration of SAzyme active centers is an effective strategy for mimicking natural enzymes.
• The developed design strategy enables rational engineering of SAzymes for enhanced enzyme-like performance.
• This work provides a pathway for developing high-performance nanozymes for various applications.