Barrier-free liquid condensates of nanocatalysts as effective concentrators of catalysis

Abstract

Traditional methods of molecular confinement have physicochemical barriers that restrict the free passage of substrates/products. Here, we explored liquid–liquid phase separation as a method to restrain protein–metal nanocomposites within barrier-free condensates. Confinement within liquid droplets was independent of the protein's native conformation and amplified the catalytic efficiency of metal nanocatalysts by one order of magnitude.