A Green Catalytic Device Utilizing Carbon Dots as Hydrolase Mimetics for <i>p</i> ‐Nitrophenyl Phosphate Hydrolysis

ABSTRACT The critical role of high‐performance catalytic devices in green technologies, from environmental remediation to sustainable energy, demands a transformation from materials to functional devices. In this study, we leverage carbon dots (CDs) to construct high‐performance and environmentally benign catalytic systems, motivated by their low toxicity, enzyme‐like activities, and tunable structures and properties. Specifically, CDs featuring a cyclic dipeptide structure and hydrolase‐like activity were immobilized in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) to form a fibrous membrane (CDs@PAN). Using the hydrolysis of p ‐nitrophenyl phosphate ( p NPP) as a model reaction, the CDs@PAN membrane demonstrated high efficiency ( V m = 40.79 µM/h) in the hydrolysis of p NPP under mild, neutral conditions. Moreover, the membrane could be easily recovered and reused at least five times without significant loss of activity. A practical catalytic device constructed with the CDs@PAN membrane achieved an 81.88% degradation rate within 72 h. Besides, the catalytic mechanism of the CDs@PAN membrane was explored, which revealed that the PAN matrix enhances substrate adsorption, thereby promoting stronger hydrogen bonding between CDs and substrate. This interaction effectively activates the P─O bond and facilitates efficient hydrolysis. Overall, this study provides a feasible strategy and a promising material platform for developing practical green catalytic technologies.