Enzyme-inspired single-atom photocatalysis for oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide
Lukáš Zdražil, Alejandro Cadranel, Giorgio Zoppellaro, Ayse Günay‐Gürer, Zdeňěk Baďura, David Panáček, Hana Kmentová, Camila Otero, Štěpán Kment, María Ana Huergo, Emiliano Fonda, Radek Zbořil, Dirk M. Guldi
Abstract
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.