Intrinsic Peroxidase-like Activity of Porous CuO Micro-/nanostructures with Clean Surface

Porous CuO micro-/nanostructures with clean surface, prepared through Cu-2(OH)(2)CO3 precursor followed by calcination in air, were proven to be an effective peroxidase mimic. They can quickly catalyze oxidation of the peroxidase substrate 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2, producing a blue color. The obtained porous CuO micro-/nanostructure have potential application in wastewater treatment. The apparent steady-state kinetic parameter was studied with TMB as the substrate. In addition, the potential application of the porous CuO in wastewater treatment was demonstrated with phenol-containing water as an example. Such investigation not only confirms the intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of micro-/nanostructured CuO, but also suggests its potential application in wastewater treatment.