Nano-confined MXene/covalent organic framework photothermal bioreactors for efficient catalysis and temperature...

Bioreactors play a crucial role in biocatalysis, particularly where energy efficiency and catalytic stability remain critical challenges. This study reports a continuous-flow photothermal bioreactor based on a MXene/covalent organic framework (MCOF) composite, synthesized in one pot with high surface area and excellent photothermal biocatalytic performance. Multilayer MCOF membranes with nanoscale confinement effects were constructed, which enabled highly efficient enzyme immobilization and enhanced mass transfer. Under near-infrared light irradiation, the MCOF membrane rapidly converted light into heat, facilitating efficient thermal management of enzymes. Compared to the conventional heat conduction heating method, this system reduced energy consumption by more than 86%, requiring only 2.14 Wh of energy per hour. Additionally, the confined structure of the MCOF membrane promoted substrate-enzyme interactions and continuous-flow catalysis. To achieve the same product-conversion effect, the confined structure required only 45% of the free enzyme reaction time and 55% of the dispersed MCOF powder reaction time. After six cycles, the MCOF bioreactor retained over 80% catalytic activity and maintained high conversion rates under various flow conditions. This work integrates photothermal management and confinement-enhanced catalysis to establish a new strategy for developing efficient, reusable, and low-energy bioreactors suitable for scalable green biomanufacturing.