Cubic boron nitride with an intrinsic peroxidase-like activity

Abstract

Inorganic artificial enzymes have been developed as potential candidates to naturally occurring enzymes, and three inorganic enzyme mimics, noble metals, metal oxides and carbon materials, have been reported so far. Here, we reported the inorganic enzyme mimic of nitride-based materials. We demonstrated that cubic boron nitride (c-BN) as an enzyme mimic showed intrinsic peroxidase-like activity towards classical colorimetric substrates in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The Michaelis–Menten kinetics studies indicated that the catalytic efficiency of c-BN is superior to its natural peroxidase counterparts. We also established that the peroxidase-like activity of c-BN is induced by catalyzing the decomposition of H₂O₂ and generating hydroxyl radicals (˙OH). Based on the color reaction, a strategy was developed for H₂O₂ and glucose quantitative detection with high sensitivity. A reactor was constructed by entrapping c-BN in a porous platform and the peroxidase mimic immobilization for removal of organic pollutants was successfully conducted. Additionally, c-BN can be re-used up to 5 times and retain its catalytic activity after incubation at extremes of pH and temperature. These findings open the door for the application of c-BN as a catalyst and the development of nitride-based materials in the enzyme-mimics field.