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Nanomaterials
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Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World
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Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 15173

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sergei A. Kulinich

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Guest Editor
Research Institute of Science and Technology, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan
Interests: preparation and characterization of nanomaterials; laser ablation in liquid and wet-chemistry approaches to produce nanostructures; using nanomaterials to develop devices
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Valery A. Svetlichnyi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Technology, Siberian Physical-Technical Institute, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
Interests: high-power laser excitation; pulsed laser ablation; laser spectroscopy; nonlinear optics of dyes and crystals; synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials; photocatalysis; biomedical applications of nanoparticles; surface and sensoric properties of nanostructures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The present Special Issue aims to attract comprehensive studies that outline progress in the design, preparation, and application of a wide range of nanomaterials for a green and sustainable world.

The success of the implementation of the green and sustainable world approach is determined by breakthrough technologies based, among other factors, on new materials. Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies play one of the leading roles in such important areas of the sustainable future as ecological catalysis and the processing of renewable raw materials, green energy, biomedicine, and many others.

We invite authors involved in the development and application of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies for various areas of the green and sustainable world to send original research articles and review articles to our Special Issue. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Nanomaterials for ecological catalysis (for the decomposition of various pollutants in water and air);
  • Green approaches and technologies for obtaining functional nanomaterials;
  • Nanocatalysts for processing organic raw materials, CO2 conversion, etc.;
  • Nanomaterials for various technologies related to hydrogen energy;
  • Nanoparticles and nanocomposites for personalized medicine;
  • Nanomaterials for solar energy conversion;
  • Nanomaterials for sensors in the field of ecology and biomedicine.

Prof. Dr. Sergei A. Kulinich
Dr. Valery A. Svetlichnyi
Guest Editors

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. Nanomaterials 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 2900 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

  • nanomaterials for sustainable technologies
  • ecological catalysis
  • nanomaterials for personalized medicine
  • sustainability and recycling
  • green synthesis of nanomaterials
  • nanomaterials for hydrogen technology
  • nanomaterials for clean energy applications

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2899 KiB  
Article
Rare Earth Material for Hydrogen Gas Sensing: PtGd Alloy Thin Films as a Promising Frontier
by Necmettin Kilinc, Susana Cardoso and Mustafa Erkovan
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(13), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14131098 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1435
Abstract
At the focus of our investigation lies the precision fabrication of ultrathin platinum–gadolinium (PtGd) alloy films, with the aim to use these films for resistive hydrogen gas sensing. The imperative for sensitive and selective sensors to harness hydrogen’s potential as an alternative energy [...] Read more.
At the focus of our investigation lies the precision fabrication of ultrathin platinum–gadolinium (PtGd) alloy films, with the aim to use these films for resistive hydrogen gas sensing. The imperative for sensitive and selective sensors to harness hydrogen’s potential as an alternative energy source drives our work. Applying rare earth materials, we enhance the capabilities of hydrogen gas sensing applications. Our study pioneers PtGd alloy thin films for hydrogen gas sensing, addressing a gap in existing literature. Here, we demonstrate the functional characteristics of 2 nm thick PtxGd100′x (x = 25, 50 and 75) alloy films, analyzing their hydrogen gas sensing properties, comprehensively examining the interplay between alloy composition, temperature fluctuation and hydrogen concentration. The effect of composition and structural properties on the sensing response were assessed using EDX and XPS. The films are tested at a temperature range between 25 °C and 150 °C with hydrogen gas concentrations ranging from 10 ppm to 5%. Hydrogen gas sensing mechanisms in PtGd alloy ultrathin films are explained by surface scattering. The unique combination of Pt and Gd offers promising characteristics for gas sensing applications, including high reactivity with hydrogen gas and tunable sensitivity based on the alloy composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World)
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18 pages, 2983 KiB  
Article
Biosynthesis of Cu-In-S Nanoparticles by a Yeast Isolated from Union Glacier, Antarctica: A Platform for Enhanced Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells
by Carolina Arriaza-Echanes, Jessica L. Campo-Giraldo, Felipe Valenzuela-Ibaceta, Javiera Ramos-Zúñiga and José M. Pérez-Donoso
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(6), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14060552 - 21 Mar 2024
Viewed by 2030
Abstract
In recent years, the utilization of extremophile microorganisms for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles, featuring enhanced properties and diverse compositions, has emerged as a sustainable strategy to generate high-quality nanomaterials with unique characteristics. Our study focuses on the biosynthesis of Cu-In-S (CIS) nanoparticles, [...] Read more.
In recent years, the utilization of extremophile microorganisms for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles, featuring enhanced properties and diverse compositions, has emerged as a sustainable strategy to generate high-quality nanomaterials with unique characteristics. Our study focuses on the biosynthesis of Cu-In-S (CIS) nanoparticles, which has garnered considerable attention in the past decade due to their low toxicity and versatile applications in biomedicine and solar cells. Despite this interest, there is a notable absence of reports on biological methods for CIS nanoparticle synthesis. In this research, three yeast species were isolated from soil samples in an extreme Antarctic environment—Union Glacier, Ellsworth Mountains. Among these isolates, Filobasidium stepposum demonstrated the capability to biosynthesize CIS nanoparticles when exposed to copper sulfate, indium chloride, glutathione, and cysteine. Subsequent purification and spectroscopic characterization confirmed the presence of characteristic absorbance and fluorescence peaks for CIS nanoparticles at 500 and 650 nm, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the synthesis of monodisperse nanoparticles with a size range of 3–5 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the composition of the nanoparticles, revealing the presence of copper, indium, and sulfur. The copper/indium ratio ranged from 0.15 to 0.27, depending on the reaction time. The biosynthesized CIS nanoparticles showed higher photostability than biomimetic nanoparticles and demonstrated successful application as photosensitizers in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSC), achieving a conversion efficiency of up to 0.0247%. In summary, this work presents a cost-effective, straightforward, and environmentally friendly method for CIS nanoparticle synthesis. Furthermore, it constitutes the first documented instance of a biological procedure for producing these nanoparticles, opening avenues for the development of environmentally sustainable solar cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World)
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17 pages, 3853 KiB  
Article
Highly Selective CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol over Complex In/Co Catalysts: Effect of Polymer Frame
by Svetlana A. Sorokina, Nina V. Kuchkina, Stepan P. Mikhailov, Alexander V. Mikhalchenko, Alexey V. Bykov, Valentin Yu. Doluda, Lyudmila M. Bronstein and Zinaida B. Shifrina
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(23), 2996; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13232996 - 22 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1332
Abstract
The growing demand for new energy sources governs the intensive research into CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, a valuable liquid fuel. Recently, indium-based catalysts have shown promise in this reaction, but they are plagued by shortcomings such as structural instability during the reaction [...] Read more.
The growing demand for new energy sources governs the intensive research into CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, a valuable liquid fuel. Recently, indium-based catalysts have shown promise in this reaction, but they are plagued by shortcomings such as structural instability during the reaction and low selectivity. Here, we report a new strategy of controlling the selectivity and stability of bimetallic magnetically recoverable indium-based catalysts deposited onto a solid support. This was accomplished by the introduction of a structural promoter: a branched pyridylphenylene polymer (PPP). The selectivity of methanol formation for this catalyst reached 98.5%, while in the absence of PPP, the catalysts produced a large amount of methane, and the selectivity was about 70.2%. The methanol production rate was higher by a factor of twelve compared to that of a commercial Cu-based catalyst. Along with tuning selectivity, PPP allowed the catalyst to maintain a high stability, enhancing the CO2 sorption capacity and the protection of In against sintering and over-reduction. A careful evaluation of the structure–activity relationships allowed us to balance the catalyst composition with a high level of structural control, providing synergy between the support, magnetic constituent, catalytic species, and the stabilizing polymer layer. We also uncovered the role of each component in the ultimate methanol activity and selectivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World)
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20 pages, 14759 KiB  
Article
Ni-Based SBA-15 Catalysts Modified with CeMnOx for CO2 Valorization via Dry Reforming of Methane: Effect of Composition on Modulating Activity and H2/CO Ratio
by Maria V. Grabchenko, Natalia V. Dorofeeva, Valery A. Svetlichnyi, Yurii V. Larichev, Valeria La Parola, Leonarda Francesca Liotta, Sergei A. Kulinich and Olga V. Vodyankina
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(19), 2641; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13192641 - 26 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1250
Abstract
Dry reforming of methane with ratio CH4/CO2 = 1 is studied using supported Ni catalysts on SBA-15 modified by CeMnOx mixed oxides with different Ce/Mn ratios (0.25, 1 and 9). The obtained samples are characterized by wide-angle XRD, SAXS, [...] Read more.
Dry reforming of methane with ratio CH4/CO2 = 1 is studied using supported Ni catalysts on SBA-15 modified by CeMnOx mixed oxides with different Ce/Mn ratios (0.25, 1 and 9). The obtained samples are characterized by wide-angle XRD, SAXS, N2 sorption, TPR-H2, TEM, UV–vis and Raman spectroscopies. The SBA-15 modification with CeMnOx decreases the sizes of NiO nanoparticles and enhances the NiO–support interaction. When Ce/Mn = 9, the NiO forms small particles on the surface of large CeO2 particles and/or interacts with CeO2, forming mixed phases. The best catalytic performance (at 650 °C, CH4 and CO2 conversions are 51 and 69%, respectively) is achieved over the Ni/CeMnOx/SBA-15 (9:1) catalyst. The peculiar CeMnOx composition (Ce/Mn = 9) also improves the catalyst stability: In a 24 h stability test, the CH4 conversion decreases by 18 rel.% as compared to a 30 rel.% decrease for unmodified catalyst. The enhanced catalytic stability of Ni/CeMnOx/SBA-15 (9:1) is attributed to the high concentration of reactive peroxo (O−) and superoxo (O2−) species that significantly lower the amount of coke in comparison with Ni-SBA-15 unmodified catalyst (weight loss of 2.7% vs. 42.2%). Ni-SBA-15 modified with equimolar Ce/Mn ratio or Mn excess is less performing. Ni/CeMnOx/SBA-15 (1:4) with the highest content of manganese shows the minimum conversions of reagents in the entire temperature range (X(CO2) = 4–36%, X(CH4) = 8–58%). This finding is possibly attributed to the presence of manganese oxide, which decorates the Ni particles due to its redistribution at the preparation stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World)
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26 pages, 23610 KiB  
Article
Innovative Low-Cost Composite Nanoadsorbents Based on Eggshell Waste for Nickel Removal from Aqueous Media
by Adina-Elena Segneanu, Roxana Trusca, Claudiu Cepan, Maria Mihailescu, Cornelia Muntean, Dumitru Daniel Herea, Ioan Grozescu and Athanasios Salifoglou
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(18), 2572; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13182572 - 16 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1633
Abstract
In a contemporary sustainable economy, innovation is a prerequisite to recycling waste into new efficient materials designed to minimize pollution and conserve non-renewable natural resources. Using an innovative approach to remediating metal-polluted water, in this study, eggshell waste was used to prepare two [...] Read more.
In a contemporary sustainable economy, innovation is a prerequisite to recycling waste into new efficient materials designed to minimize pollution and conserve non-renewable natural resources. Using an innovative approach to remediating metal-polluted water, in this study, eggshell waste was used to prepare two new low-cost nanoadsorbents for the retrieval of nickel from aqueous solutions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results show that in the first eggshell–zeolite (EZ) adsorbent, the zeolite nanoparticles were loaded in the eggshell pores. The preparation for the second (iron(III) oxide-hydroxide)–eggshell–zeolite (FEZ) nanoadsorbent led to double functionalization of the eggshell base with the zeolite nanoparticles, upon simultaneous loading of the pores of the eggshell and zeolite surface with FeOOH particles. Structural modification of the eggshell led to a significant increase in the specific surface, as confirmed using BET analysis. These features enabled the composite EZ and FEZ to remove nickel from aqueous solutions with high performance and adsorption capacities of 321.1 mg/g and 287.9 mg/g, respectively. The results indicate that nickel adsorption on EZ and FEZ is a multimolecular layer, spontaneous, and endothermic process. Concomitantly, the desorption results reflect the high reusability of these two nanomaterials, collectively suggesting the use of waste in the design of new, low-cost, and highly efficient composite nanoadsorbents for environmental bioremediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World)
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Review

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33 pages, 9277 KiB  
Review
A Review on Recently Developed Antibacterial Composites of Inorganic Nanoparticles and Non-Hydrogel Polymers for Biomedical Applications
by Anastasiia V. Shabalina, Valeriy A. Kozlov, Ivan A. Popov and Sergey V. Gudkov
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(21), 1753; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14211753 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 613
Abstract
Development of new antibacterial materials for solving biomedical problems is an extremely important and very urgent task. This review aims to summarize recent articles (from the last five and mostly the last three years) on the nanoparticle/polymer composites for biomedical applications. Articles on [...] Read more.
Development of new antibacterial materials for solving biomedical problems is an extremely important and very urgent task. This review aims to summarize recent articles (from the last five and mostly the last three years) on the nanoparticle/polymer composites for biomedical applications. Articles on polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) and hydrogel-based systems were not reviewed, since we focused our attention mostly on the composites of polymeric matrix with at least one inorganic filler in the form of NPs. The fields of application of newly developed antibacterial NPs/polymer composites are described, along with their composition and synthetic approaches that allow researchers to succeed in preparing effective composite materials for medical and healthcare purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World)
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23 pages, 1368 KiB  
Review
Selenium Nanoparticles in Protecting the Brain from Stroke: Possible Signaling and Metabolic Mechanisms
by Egor A. Turovsky, Alexey S. Baryshev and Egor Y. Plotnikov
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(2), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14020160 - 11 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2434
Abstract
Strokes rank as the second most common cause of mortality and disability in the human population across the world. Currently, available methods of treating or preventing strokes have significant limitations, primarily the need to use high doses of drugs due to the presence [...] Read more.
Strokes rank as the second most common cause of mortality and disability in the human population across the world. Currently, available methods of treating or preventing strokes have significant limitations, primarily the need to use high doses of drugs due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier. In the last decade, increasing attention has been paid to the capabilities of nanotechnology. However, the vast majority of research in this area is focused on the mechanisms of anticancer and antiviral effects of nanoparticles. In our opinion, not enough attention is paid to the neuroprotective mechanisms of nanomaterials. In this review, we attempted to summarize the key molecular mechanisms of brain cell damage during ischemia. We discussed the current literature regarding the use of various nanomaterials for the treatment of strokes. In this review, we examined the features of all known nanomaterials, the possibility of which are currently being studied for the treatment of strokes. In this regard, the positive and negative properties of nanomaterials for the treatment of strokes have been identified. Particular attention in the review was paid to nanoselenium since selenium is a vital microelement and is part of very important and little-studied proteins, e.g., selenoproteins and selenium-containing proteins. An analysis of modern studies of the cytoprotective effects of nanoselenium made it possible to establish the mechanisms of acute and chronic protective effects of selenium nanoparticles. In this review, we aimed to combine all the available information regarding the neuroprotective properties and mechanisms of action of nanoparticles in neurodegenerative processes, especially in cerebral ischemia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World)
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25 pages, 3069 KiB  
Review
From E-Waste to High-Value Materials: Sustainable Synthesis of Metal, Metal Oxide, and MOF Nanoparticles from Waste Printed Circuit Boards
by Tatiana Pineda-Vásquez, Leidy Rendón-Castrillón, Margarita Ramírez-Carmona and Carlos Ocampo-López
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14010069 - 26 Dec 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3618
Abstract
The exponential growth of electronic waste (e-waste) has raised significant environmental concerns, with projections indicating a surge to 74.7 million metric tons of e-waste generated by 2030. Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs), constituting approximately 10% of all e-waste, are particularly intriguing due to [...] Read more.
The exponential growth of electronic waste (e-waste) has raised significant environmental concerns, with projections indicating a surge to 74.7 million metric tons of e-waste generated by 2030. Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs), constituting approximately 10% of all e-waste, are particularly intriguing due to their high content of valuable metals and rare earth elements. However, the presence of hazardous elements necessitates sustainable recycling strategies. This review explores innovative approaches to sustainable metal nanoparticle synthesis from WPCBs. Efficient metal recovery from WPCBs begins with disassembly and the utilization of advanced equipment for optimal separation. Various pretreatment techniques, including selective leaching and magnetic separation, enhance metal recovery efficiency. Green recovery systems such as biohydrometallurgy offer eco-friendly alternatives, with high selectivity. Converting metal ions into nanoparticles involves concentration and transformation methods like chemical precipitation, electrowinning, and dialysis. These methods are vital for transforming recovered metal ions into valuable nanoparticles, promoting sustainable resource utilization and eco-friendly e-waste recycling. Sustainable green synthesis methods utilizing natural sources, including microorganisms and plants, are discussed, with a focus on their applications in producing well-defined nanoparticles. Nanoparticles derived from WPCBs find valuable applications in drug delivery, microelectronics, antimicrobial materials, environmental remediation, diagnostics, catalysis, agriculture, etc. They contribute to eco-friendly wastewater treatment, photocatalysis, protective coatings, and biomedicine. The important implications of this review lie in its identification of sustainable metal nanoparticle synthesis from WPCBs as a pivotal solution to e-waste environmental concerns, paving the way for eco-friendly recycling practices and the supply of valuable materials for diverse industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Green and Sustainable World)
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