The use of peroxide-based disinfectants has grown with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the extensive use of chemical disinfectants to kill viruses and other pathogens can also threaten human health and ecosystems. A research team has engineered a new nanomaterial that can boost the potency of common disinfectants. The nanomaterial could be scaled to deactivate environmental pathogens in diverse environments. Examples include water purification.