Enzyme-inspired single-atom photocatalysis for oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide
Photocatalysis presents a promising route for generating sustainable, high-energy-density fuels. However, conventional photocatalysts based on rigid binary metal compounds face significant limitations, including fixed band gaps, rapid charge recombination, and non-specific reaction pathways - ultimately leading to limited selectivity and yield. Critically, they lack the site-specific selectivity characteristic of enzymatic systems, a feature essential for achieving high efficiency, control, and precision. Inspired by cytochrome c oxidase, we report the development of Cu-single-atom-enhanced carbon dots as the enzymatic-like photocatalyst. By mimicking enzyme´s site-specific electron transfer cascade, these carbon dots enable the selective photocatalytic reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide under ambient conditions. This study introduces a strategy for translating enzymatic precision into photocatalytic materials design, bridging molecular and materials catalysis for sustainable energy and chemical transformations.
Authors
- David Panáček (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0881-0477)
- Dirk M. Guldi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3960-1765)
- Giorgio Zoppellaro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2304-2564)
- Radek Zbořil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3147-2196)
- María Ana Huergo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8652-9172)
- Camila Otero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5388-7272)
- Emiliano Fonda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6584-4587)
- Zdeňěk Baďura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2330-2012)
- Štěpán Kment (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6381-5093)
- Lukáš Zdražil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5284-9845)
- Hana Kmentová
- Alejandro Cadranel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6597-4397)
- Ayse Günay‐Gürer
Institutions
- VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (CZ)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- International Council on Mining and Metals (GB)
- Synchrotron soleil (FR)
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas (AR)
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials (CZ)
- Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies (ES)
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas (AR)
- Fundación Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (AR)
- Palacký University Olomouc (CZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-12-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67189-3
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Nanomaterials in Catalysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.04
Funders
- Solar Technologies go Hybrid
- European Commission
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Grantová Agentura České Republiky
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
- European Regional Development Fund
- European Social Fund