Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Single Atoms Functioning as Catalysts Inside Living Matter
Xue Zhou1, Tianhang Feng1, Zhiquan An1
1School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Single-atom catalysts, miniaturized materials, now function inside living bacteria. Iron-nitrogen single atoms in quantum dots drive intracellular redox reactions, altering cellular metabolism without genetic modification.
Area of Science:
- Nanomaterials Science
- Catalysis
- Synthetic Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Single-atom catalysts (SACs) represent the pinnacle of materials miniaturization.
- Their application has been limited to abiotic environments, with functionality in living systems unproven.
- Understanding if atomically dispersed metal centers maintain catalytic identity within complex biological milieus is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the catalytic activity and stability of single-atom catalysts within the cytoplasm of living bacteria.
- To explore the potential for light-driven intracellular redox reactions mediated by these biohybrid materials.
- To assess the impact of these catalysts on cellular viability and endogenous biochemical networks.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Fe-Nx single atoms embedded in graphene quantum dots (GQDs).
- Cellular internalization of the Fe-Nx-GQDs into bacterial cytoplasm.
- Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to probe material-cell coupling and charge dynamics.
- Analysis of metabolic products (e.g., succinate) and cellular viability assays.
Main Results:
- Fe-Nx single atoms within GQDs retained atomic dispersion and catalytic activity inside bacterial cytoplasm.
- A light-driven intracellular redox cycle was established, accelerating NADH oxidation.
- This perturbation led to programmable redistribution of reducing equivalents and enhanced succinate biosynthesis without genetic modification, while maintaining cellular viability.
Conclusions:
- Atomically defined materials can function effectively within living biological systems, preserving structural integrity and catalytic function.
- This study extends single-atom catalysis from abiotic interfaces to biological environments.
- Living matter is a viable reaction field for atomic-scale materials, enabling new designs for functional biohybrid systems.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Factors Influencing the Rate of Chemical Reactions
Concentration and Pressure:
The more particles present within a given space, the more likely those particles are to bump into one another.
Enzymes
Enzyme deficiencies can often translate into life-threatening diseases. For example, a genetic abnormality resulting in the deficiency of the enzyme G6PD...
Introduction to Enzymes
Most enzymes are proteins that speed up biochemical reactions without being consumed. Enzymes contain one or more active sites that bind the substrates and convert them into products. Many enzymes also...
Introduction To Enzymes
Most enzymes are proteins that speed up biochemical reactions without being consumed. Enzymes contain one or more active sites that bind the substrates and convert them into products. Many enzymes also...
Cofactors and Coenzymes
Cofactors can be metallic ions or organic molecules called coenzymes. These types of helper...
Cofactors and Coenzymes

