Ultrasound-activated perovskite piezocatalyst for efficient inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in complex wastewater system

The widespread presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in wastewater poses a significant threat to public health and ecological safety, as wastewater systems act as major conduits for ARB transmission. Piezocatalysis technology, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) from green reactants like H₂O and O₂ under mechanical stimulation, offers a promising alternative to traditional disinfection methods, such as chlorine and ultraviolet radiation. This study focuses on using perovskite materials as piezocatalysts due to excellent piezoelectric properties, high ROS generation efficiency, and positive surface potential. The positive charge on the surface of the piezocatalysts enhances electrostatic interactions with bacterial membranes, leading to membrane damage induced by ROS. This mechanism demonstrates remarkable bactericidal effects, including inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Notably, the perovskite piezocatalyst retains its disinfection effectiveness after 10 cycles, highlighting its sustainability and reusability. This work uniquely establishes the synergy between positive surface potential and strong piezoelectricity in perovskite materials as a strategy for achieving highly efficient, stable, and reagent-free inactivation of ARB in complex aqueous environments. These findings suggest that perovskite-based piezocatalysis holds great potential as an ideal solution for the bactericidal disinfection of ARB in complex wastewater system.