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Interface-engineered iron single-atom biohybrids for efficient CO2-to-bioplastic conversion

delete2026-08-20
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OA
AI
S
Sulin Ni
夏东 (Dong Xia)
C
Can Chen
C
Cheng Qiu
Y
Youzhi Li
B
Bin Yang
侯阳 (Yang Hou)
L
Lecheng Lei
毛峥伟 (Zhengwei Mao) *
李中坚 (Zhongjian Li) *
DOI:10.1038/s41467-026-76902-9delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
A hybrid system combining water electrolysis and H2 autotrophic microorganism enables sustainable CO2 valorization, but is hindered by low H2 bioavailability and sluggish hydrogenase kinetics. Here, we report an interface-engineered inorganic–biological biohybrid, constructed by covalently anchoring iron single-atom catalysts (ISA) onto Cupriavidus necator (C.N@ISA) via click chemistry. The ISA anchored interface generates a localized H2-rich microenvironment, accelerates H2 dissociation, while the synergy between ISA and polyethylene glycol-phenylboronate linker stabilizes the inorganic-biological hybrid interface and promotes electron/proton transfer across microbial membrane. These coupled effects boost reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) regeneration and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. In addition, ISA exhibits nanozyme-like activity, scavenging reactive oxygen species to protect cell viability. As a result, C.N@ISA achieves CO2-to-bioplastic poly-β-hydroxybutyrate production of 1058.8 mg L−1 with a Faradaic efficiency of 42.0%. Integrating theoretical calculations, electrochemical analysis, and transcriptomics confirms that ISA simultaneously enriches and activates H2 while reinforcing intracellular metabolism, offering a generalizable strategy for carbon-negative biomanufacturing. The integration of inorganic–microbial systems offers promise for CO2-to-chemical conversion but faces efficiency bottlenecks. Here, the authors report an engineering strategy of anchoring iron single-atom catalysts onto bacterial membranes to achieve enhanced bioplastic production.

Journal

Nature Communications cover
Nature Communications
IF:
15.7
Papers:
9.2W
Citations:
91.2W

Organization

W
wuhan institute of technology
Scholars:
1.0W
Papers: 6.5K
Citations: 11
Z
zhejiang university
Scholars:
17.5W
Papers: 12.0W
Citations: 152