Spatial Position Regulation of Cu Single Atom Site Realizes Efficient Nanozyme Photocatalytic Bactericidal Activity

Recently, single-atom nanozymes have made significant progress in the fields of sterilization and treatment, but their catalytic performance as substitutes for natural enzymes and drugs is far from satisfactory. Here, a method is reported to improve enzyme activity by adjusting the spatial position of a single-atom site on the nanoplatforms. Two types of Cu single-atom site nanozymes are synthesized in the interlayer (CuL/PHI) and in-plane (CuP/PHI) of poly (heptazine imide) (PHI) through different synthesis pathways. Experimental and theoretical analysis indicates that the interlayer position of PHI can effectively adjust the coordination number, coordination bond length, and electronic structure of Cu single atoms compared to the in-plane position, thereby promoting photoinduced electron migration and O2 activation, enabling effective generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic bactericidal activity of CuL/PHI against aureus is approximate to 100%, achieving the same antibacterial effect as antibiotics, after 10 min of low-dose light exposure and 2 h of incubation. Two types of Cu single-atom site nanozymes in the interlayer and in-plane of PHI are synthesized through different synthesis pathways. Compared with the Cu atoms located within the PHI plane, the interlayer position of PHI is more conducive to photoelectron migration and O2 adsorption and activation, achieving the same antibacterial effect as antibiotics.image

Automated summary

By adjusting the spatial position of a single-atom site on the nanoplatforms, the enzyme activity can be significantly improved, promoting photoinduced electron migration and O2 activation, resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and achieving the same antibacterial effect as antibiotics.