Application of Nanozymes in Environmental Monitoring, Management, and Protection

Nanozymes are nanomaterials with enzyme-like activity, possessing the unique properties of nanomaterials and natural enzyme-like catalytic functions. Nanozymes are catalytically active, stable, tunable, recyclable, and versatile. Therefore, increasing attention has been paid in the fields of environmental science and life sciences. In this review, we focused on the most recent applications of nanozymes for environmental monitoring, environmental management, and environmental protection. We firstly introduce the tuning catalytic activity of nanozymes according to some crucial factors such as size and shape, composition and doping, and surface coating. Then, the application of nanozymes in environmental fields are introduced in detail. Nanozymes can not only be used to detect inorganic ions, molecules, organics, and foodborne pathogenic bacteria but are also involved in the degradation of phenolic compounds, dyes, and antibiotics. The capability of nanozymes was also reported for assisting air purification, constructing biofuel cells, and application in marine antibacterial fouling removal. Finally, the current challenges and future trends of nanozymes toward environmental fields are proposed and discussed.

Automated summary

Nanozymes are nanomaterials that possess the enzyme-like catalytic functions of natural enzymes as well as the unique properties of nanomaterials. They have gained increasing attention in environmental science and life sciences due to their catalytic activity, stability, tunability, recyclability, and versatility. This review focuses on the recent applications of nanozymes in environmental monitoring, management, and protection. The tuning of nanozymes' catalytic activity based on factors like size, shape, composition, doping, and surface coating is introduced, followed by detailed discussions on their applications in detecting inorganic ions, molecules, organics, and foodborne pathogenic bacteria, as well as their involvement in the degradation of phenolic compounds, dyes, and antibiotics. Additionally, the potential of nanozymes in air purification, biofuel cell construction, and marine antibacterial fouling removal is highlighted. The review concludes with a discussion on the current challenges and future trends of nanozymes in environmental fields.