Carbon dots-stabilized Cu4O3 for a multi-responsive nanozyme with exceptionally high activity

Abstract

A novel nanocomposite of carbon dots-stabilized paramelaconite (CDs@Cu4O3) is firstly reported and investigated as a stimuli-responsive nanozyme. The CDs@Cu4O3 is a more robust catalyst without incurring the burden of easy denaturation or decomposition and behaves as oxidase and peroxidase mimetics. The activity of CDs@Cu4O3 is up to 3.6 times higher than that of pure cuprous oxide nanoparticles and can be boosted by multiple kinds of external stimuli including of light irradiation, temperature, pH and oxidizing agent. We find that carbon dots play the key roles in facilitating the generation of Cu4O3 and sustaining Cu2+/Cu+ redox couples that are required for the catalytic reaction to proceed quickly. This nanocomposite endowed with ease of preparation, versatility and high stability is expected to be wide uses for biotechnology, environmental treatment, and organic synthesis.