Piezoelectric enhanced peroxidase-like activity of metal-free sulfur doped graphdiyne nanosheets for efficient water pollutant degradation and bacterial disinfection

Carbon based nanozyme is gaining increasingly attentions due to its high stability and tailorable architecture. However, the practical applications are largely restricted by its moderate catalytic activity. External field stimulation and heteroatom doping are two effective strategies for improving enzyme mimic activities. Here, sulfur doped graphdiyne (SGDY) nanosheets were synthesized using a straightforward one-pot hydrothermal approach and reveals impressive peroxidase-like activities as well as piezoelectric properties. Kinetic investigations show that ultrasound irradiation boosts the peroxidase-like activities of SGDY. DFT calculations explicate the mechanism of piezoelectric effect on promoting peroxidase-like activity. The degradation of dyes and antibiotics, as well as antibacterial studies, demonstrate that SGDY has the great potential to be utilized in wastewater treatment. In addition, a laboratory scale device for continuous wastewater treatment was developed as a proof of concept for the practical applications of piezoelectric enhanced nanozymes. This work not only sheds light on the mechanism of nanozyme-/piezocatalysis coupling process, but also opens up a new avenue for the rational design of nanozymes with high activity for wastewater treatment and bacterial disinfection.