A recently published paper by the group in the ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces journal highlight the role of copper complexes in controlling the nitrifying biofilm formation. The researchers found that the use of nitric oxide generated from the catalytic reaction between a copper(II) complex embedded in a PVC matrix with nitrite (source of nitric oxide) and ascorbic acid (reducing agent) to control the formation and dispersion of nitrifying bacteria biofilms. When copper complex was used, higher and prolonged nitric oxide generation can be achieved as compared to nitrite and ascorbic acid solutions alone. The enhanced nitric oxide generation subsequently caused higher biofilm suppression compared to the use of nitrite-ascorbic acid alone. Moreover,  when catalytically generated nitric oxide was used on a pre-formed biofilm, the system can effectively disperse/remove the biofilm. This study highlight the potential of catalytic generation of nitric oxide for the long-term suppression and removal of biofilm.