CeVO4 Nanozymes Catalyze the Reduction of Dioxygen to Water without Releasing Partially Reduced Oxygen Species

Abstract In this study, we report a remarkably active CeVO 4 nanozyme that functionally mimics cytochrome c oxidase (C c O), the terminal enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain, by catalyzing a four‐electron reduction of dioxygen to water. The nanozyme catalyzes the reaction by using cytochrome c (Cyt c ), the biological electron donor for C c O, at physiologically relevant pH. The C c O activity of the CeVO 4 nanozymes depends on the relative ratio of surface Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ ions, the presence of V 5+ and the surface‐Cyt c interactions. The complete reduction of oxygen to water takes place without release of any partially reduced oxygen species (PROS) such as superoxide, peroxide and hydroxyl radicals.