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Operando Nanocavity-Confined Raman Spectroscopy Uncovers a Drilling-Shearing Mechanism in Nanoplastic
Jinxiang Li1, Ru Wu1, Ruixin Yang1
1State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|June 18, 2026
Summary
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) drive nanoplastic photodegradation through distinct pathways. Hydroxyl radicals cause surface oxidation, while superoxide radicals fragment nanoplastics, revealing a cooperative drilling-shearing degradation mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Understanding nanoplastic photodegradation is crucial for environmental remediation.
- Current methods lack the resolution to link reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity to chemical changes at the single-nanoparticle level.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for real-time, single-nanoparticle analysis of nanoplastic photodegradation.
- To elucidate the distinct roles of different ROS in nanoplastic breakdown.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nanocavity-confined Raman spectroscopy platform for operando molecular fingerprinting of individual nanoplastics.
- Employed ROS-selective quenching, electron paramagnetic resonance, and electron microscopy for comprehensive analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct ROS-dependent degradation pathways: hydroxyl radicals induce surface oxidation, and superoxide radicals cause fragmentation.
- Observed a cooperative degradation mechanism involving concurrent surface activation and subsurface fragmentation, termed 'drilling-shearing'.
Conclusions:
- Established a direct correlation between ROS activity and nanoscale chemical transformations in nanoplastics.
- Provided a mechanistic framework for controlling nanoplastic photodegradation through ROS manipulation.
