Applications of Nanostructured Catalytic Materials in Energy and Environment: New Progress and Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

In view of the unprecedented energy and environmental issues currently being faced, heterogeneous catalysis is expected to have a key role in advancing sustainable development. Heterogeneous catalysis has recently gained considerable attention from both the scientific and industrial communities, as it is a field of diverse applications, including, among others, the field of energy production, conversion, and storage as well as the remediation of the environment through the abatement of hazardous substances, signifying its pivotal role in the world economy.

In this regard, the rational design and development of highly efficient and cost-effective (electro)catalysts are of paramount importance. More importantly, the fine tuning of the local surface structure of nanostructured catalysts through appropriate synthesis and/or promotional routes can adjust the size, shape, and electronic state of different counterparts with great implications on intrinsic reactivity and metal–support interactions. This “fine-tuning” approach is expected to lead to the development of highly active, low-cost nanocomposites for real-life applications.

The present Special Issue is mainly focused on the recent theoretical and experimental advances in relation to the synthesis, characterization, and the fine tuning of nanostructured catalytic materials. In particular, advanced nanosynthesis and optimization routes toward the development of highly active nanocomposites for energy or environmental applications are perfectly matched to this Special Issue. In addition, advanced characterization methods and in-depth experimental and computational studies toward the fundamental understating of metal‒support interactions and structure‒property relationships are very welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Michalis Konsolakis
Guest Editor

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• nanomaterials
• nanostructured catalytic materials
• heterogeneous catalysis/electocatalysis/photocatalysis
• novel synthetic methods
• catalysts promotion
• metal–support interactions
• ceria-based oxides, perovskites, hexa-aluminates, hydrotalcites, spinels, etc.
• shape and size effects in catalysis
• advanced characterization studies