Self-Sustaining Piezozyme Platform for Antifouling via Mechanically Triggered Enzymatic Cascade

Harnessing ubiquitous mechanical energy for catalytic activation offers an emerging pathway toward self-sustaining environmental protection systems. Herein, we report a universal self-powered piezozyme platform that converts low-frequency mechanical stimuli into an enzymatic cascade, enabling chemical-free marine antifouling. The system is constructed from a CeO₂/g-C₃N₄ heterostructure, where piezoelectric polarization in g-C₃N₄ drives electron-hole separation and oxygen reduction to generate H₂O₂ in situ, while CeO₂ nanophases initiate dual haloperoxidase- and peroxidase-like enzymatic reactions, yielding potent reactive oxygen species (•OH and HOBr). Unlike conventional photocatalytic or sacrificial approaches, this mechanically triggered cascade continuously operates under wave motion without external light or chemical input. Beyond antibacterial testing (>99.99% inactivation), it represents the first piezocatalytic nanozyme coating validated in a 180-day marine field test, maintaining <5% biofouling coverage. This proposed self-sustaining catalytic strategy not only offers an environmentally benign antifouling solution but also opens new opportunities for the design of wave-driven catalytic systems in marine protection and sustainable energy-environmental applications.