molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Development of Nanomaterials for Energy and Environmental Applications

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 923

Special Issue Editor

School of Physics and Electrical Engineering, Anyang Normal University, Anyang 455000, China
Interests: photoelectrocatalysis; computational materials science; water-splitting; CO2 reduction reaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to introduce a new Special Issue titled "Development of Nanomaterials for Energy and Environmental Applications", which aims to showcase the latest advancements in nanotechnology that contribute to sustainable energy production and environmental protection.

As global energy demands continue to skyrocket and environmental concerns remain at the forefront of public discourse, the need for innovative solutions in these sectors becomes more pressing. Nanomaterials, with their unique properties at the atomic and molecular scale, offer potential breakthroughs in addressing these challenges. This Special Issue invites original research papers and reviews on the synthesis, characterization, and application of nanomaterials that demonstrate significant progress in energy conversion, storage, and efficiency, as well as pollution mitigation and environmental clean-up.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Nanostructured materials for solar energy harvesting and photovoltaic systems;
  • Advances in nanomaterials for battery technology and energy storage solutions;
  • Catalytic nanomaterials for green energy production and emission reduction;
  • Nanoparticles for water purification and wastewater treatment technologies;
  • Nanotechnology in carbon capture, utilization, and storage;
  • Development of sensors based on nanomaterials for environmental monitoring;
  • Biodegradable and eco-friendly nanomaterials for environmental applications.

We invite researchers, engineers, and academics to contribute their cutting-edge findings and insights that can help to pave the way for a more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable future.

Dr. Lin Ju
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • photo/electrocatalytic mechanism studies
  • photo/electrocatalyst design
  • single atom catalyst
  • artificial photosynthesis
  • water splitting
  • N2 reduction reaction
  • NOx reduction reaction
  • CO2 reduction reaction
  • heterojunction

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

35 pages, 7252 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress of Ion-Modified TiO2 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
by Dongqiu Zhao, Xiao Tang, Penglan Liu, Qiao Huang, Tingxian Li and Lin Ju
Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2347; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102347 - 16 May 2024
Viewed by 373
Abstract
Harnessing solar energy to produce hydrogen through semiconductor-mediated photocatalytic water splitting is a promising avenue to address the challenges of energy scarcity and environmental degradation. Ever since Fujishima and Honda’s groundbreaking work in photocatalytic water splitting, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has garnered [...] Read more.
Harnessing solar energy to produce hydrogen through semiconductor-mediated photocatalytic water splitting is a promising avenue to address the challenges of energy scarcity and environmental degradation. Ever since Fujishima and Honda’s groundbreaking work in photocatalytic water splitting, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has garnered significant interest as a semiconductor photocatalyst, prized for its non-toxicity, affordability, superior photocatalytic activity, and robust chemical stability. Nonetheless, the efficacy of solar energy conversion is hampered by TiO2’s wide bandgap and the swift recombination of photogenerated carriers. In pursuit of enhancing TiO2’s photocatalytic prowess, a panoply of modification techniques has been explored over recent years. This work provides an extensive review of the strategies employed to augment TiO2’s performance in photocatalytic hydrogen production, with a special emphasis on foreign dopant incorporation. Firstly, we delve into metal doping as a key tactic to boost TiO2’s capacity for efficient hydrogen generation via water splitting. We elaborate on the premise that metal doping introduces discrete energy states within TiO2’s bandgap, thereby elevating its visible light photocatalytic activity. Following that, we evaluate the role of metal nanoparticles in modifying TiO2, hailed as one of the most effective strategies. Metal nanoparticles, serving as both photosensitizers and co-catalysts, display a pronounced affinity for visible light absorption and enhance the segregation and conveyance of photogenerated charge carriers, leading to remarkable photocatalytic outcomes. Furthermore, we consolidate perspectives on the nonmetal doping of TiO2, which tailors the material to harness visible light more efficiently and bolsters the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. The incorporation of various anions is summarized for their potential to propel TiO2’s photocatalytic capabilities. This review aspires to compile contemporary insights on ion-doped TiO2, propelling the efficacy of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and anticipating forthcoming advancements. Our work aims to furnish an informative scaffold for crafting advanced TiO2-based photocatalysts tailored for water-splitting applications. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2297 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Effect of Defect Modulation on the Photocatalytic Reduction Performance of Carbon Dioxide
by Cheng Zuo, Xiao Tang, Haiquan Wang and Qian Su
Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2308; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102308 - 14 May 2024
Viewed by 280
Abstract
Constructive defect engineering has emerged as a prominent method for enhancing the performance of photocatalysts. The mechanisms of the influence of defect types, concentrations, and distributions on the efficiency, selectivity, and stability of CO2 reduction were revealed for this paper by analyzing [...] Read more.
Constructive defect engineering has emerged as a prominent method for enhancing the performance of photocatalysts. The mechanisms of the influence of defect types, concentrations, and distributions on the efficiency, selectivity, and stability of CO2 reduction were revealed for this paper by analyzing the effects of different types of defects (e.g., metallic defects, non-metallic defects, and composite defects) on the performance of photocatalysts. There are three fundamental steps in defect engineering techniques to promote photocatalysis, namely, light absorption, charge transfer and separation, and surface-catalyzed reactions. Defect engineering has demonstrated significant potential in recent studies, particularly in enhancing the light-harvesting, charge separation, and adsorption properties of semiconductor photocatalysts for reducing processes like carbon dioxide reduction. Furthermore, this paper discusses the optimization method used in defect modulation strategy to offer theoretical guidance and an experimental foundation for designing and preparing efficient and stable photocatalysts. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop