Recent advancements for defect engineering in nanozymes

Nanozymes, a class of artificial enzymes with catalytic functions similar to natural enzymes, have garnered attention due to their adjustable catalytic activity and high stability. The need for highly active, specific, and robust nanozymes has driven research into defect engineering, as defects in nanomaterials have been verified to significantly enhance catalytic performances. Defect engineering, by modulating the crystal and electronic structures of nanomaterials, generates a multitude of coordinatively unsaturated active sites, thereby improving the catalytic efficiency of nanozymes, and has become a research hotspot in the field of materials science. This review delves into the application of defect engineering in nanozymes, examines its impact on performance, and explores the applications of machine learning in the latest advancements in the field. The integration of defect engineering with nanozymes is expected to unlock new possibilities in the field. • The classification and properties of defect engineering are illustrated. • The mechanisms and kinetics by which defect engineering enhances the catalytic activity of nanozymes are elucidated. • Recent advances of defective nanozymes in the machine learning and biomedical fields were reviewed. • The challenges faced in the development of defect-engineered nanozymes are summarized.