Nanozymes: powerful catalytic materials for environmental pollutant detection and degradation

Abstract

The increasing environmental pollution and its threats to human health require efficient monitoring and remediation techniques. Enzymes play a significant role in environmental monitoring and remediation, but the vulnerable performance of natural enzymes greatly limits their wider use in complex matrices. As an alternative to natural enzymes, materials with enzyme-like catalytic characteristics have found many environmental applications. With the catalytic signal amplification feature, various nanozyme materials are explored to detect contaminants. Meanwhile, the robust catalytic performance endows nanozymes with potential use in pollutant removal. To highlight the exciting and blooming area, here we made a critical review on nanozyme-involved detection and degradation of environmental pollutants, and the research progress achieved in the last five years was emphatically concluded. First, the use of nanozymes in detecting various contaminants (toxic ions, phenolic pollutants, antibiotics, and pesticides) was discussed according to different sensing principles. Second, the strategies established with the participation of nanozymes for pollutant degradation were summarized. In the end, the opportunities given by nanozyme catalysis were presented for environmental control, and current challenges were discussed to better guide the field's development. Our review provides the up-to-date means and views for monitoring and degrading pollutants based on nanozyme catalysis. It is also anticipated to draw more attention and effort to further advance this promising area.