biostudies-literatureZhang ZQNational Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)115https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11697253biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been increasingly acknowledged for their performance in sustainable Fenton-like catalysis. However, SACs face a trade-off between activity and stability in peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based systems. Herein, we design a nano-island encapsulated single cobalt atom (Co_SA/Zn.O-ZnO) catalyst to enhance the activity and stability of PMS activation for contaminant degradation via an "island-sea" synergistic effect. In this configuration, small carrier-based ZnO nanoparticles (the "islands") are utilized to confine and stabilize Co single atoms. The expansive ZnO substrate (the "sea") upholds a neutral microenvironment within the reaction system. The Co_SA/Zn.O-ZnO/PMS system exhibits a remarkable selectivity in exclusively generating sulfate radiNature communicationsNano-island-encapsulated cobalt single-atom catalysts for breaking activity-stability trade-off in Fenton-like reactions.PMC1169725352192684, 5182100652270149, 51908528Sun YJDuan PJXie YQZheng JXYu HQChen FBai CWZhang ZQChen XJfalseNano-island-encapsulated cobalt single-atom catalysts for breaking activity-stability trade-off in Fenton-like reactions.Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been increasingly acknowledged for their performance in sustainable Fenton-like catalysis. However, SACs face a trade-off between activity and stability in peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based systems. Herein, we design a nano-island encapsulated single cobalt atom (Co_SA/Zn.O-ZnO) catalyst to enhance the activity and stability of PMS activation for contaminant degradation via an "island-sea" synergistic effect. In this configuration, small carrier-based ZnO nanoparticles (the "islands") are utilized to confine and stabilize Co single atoms. The expansive ZnO substrate (the "sea") upholds a neutral microenvironment within the reaction system. The Co_SA/Zn.O-ZnO/PMS system exhibits a remarkable selectivity in exclusively generating sulfate radi2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jan2025-04-04T12:02:54.416Z2025-04-04T12:02:54.416ZS-EPMC116972533974720810.1038/s41467-024-55622-y