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Atomic-Scale Channels Destroy Water Pollutants that Treatment Plants Cannot Touch

Researchers have engineered a copper‑single‑atom catalyst confined within MXene interlayer nano‑channels (Cu‑SACs/MXene) that achieves 94.9% removal of bisphenol A in just five minutes. The 1.37 nm channels concentrate oxidants and accelerate mass transport, while the isolated Cu atoms cycle between Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ to generate reactive oxygen species, especially singlet oxygen. The system also degrades a range of pharmaceuticals and dyes, delivering up to 99.8% removal in batch tests and over 90% aromatic reduction in continuous‑flow wastewater. Low copper leaching confirms stability for practical deployment.