Issue 5, 2020

Light-activated nanozymes: catalytic mechanisms and applications

Abstract

Recently, nanozymes have attracted enormous interest for their high stability, low cost and various enzyme-like activities. In nature, many biochemical reactions require light. Recently, introducing light to nanozymes has also been reported, especially for photosensitized oxygen activation. Compared to normal nanozymes, light-activated nanozymes possess several advantages including light-regulated activity, using molecular oxygen as a green oxidant, and often higher activity can be achieved. Herein, we summarize light-activated nanozymes, starting from their photophysical processes and identification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although the types of light-activated nanozymes are still quite limited and cannot yet mimic the same reactions as natural photo-related enzymes, they have widened the range of nanozymes. A few specific applications are highlighted, including sensing, chemical synthesis, degradation of organic pollutants, and cleavage and repair of DNA. Finally, a few future research opportunities are discussed.

Graphical abstract: Light-activated nanozymes: catalytic mechanisms and applications

Article information

Article type
Minireview
Submitted
24 dec 2019
Accepted
18 jan 2020
First published
20 jan 2020

Nanoscale, 2020,12, 2914-2923

Light-activated nanozymes: catalytic mechanisms and applications

J. Zhang and J. Liu, Nanoscale, 2020, 12, 2914 DOI: 10.1039/C9NR10822J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements