Mesoporous and Microporous Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Materials and Metal-Organic Frameworks".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 June 2024) | Viewed by 7071

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
Interests: nanoporous catalysts including zeolites; mesoporous materials; porous carbons for sustainable energy and environmental applications
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy and the environment are currently at the focus of the world’s attention. When it comes to the issue of balancing energy demand and environmental protection, sustainable energy and green production processes will be an effective solution to the energy demand and environmental protection. Mesoporous and microporous materials are a category of indispensable new materials for sustainable energy and environment. Mesoporous and microporous materials are widely used in adsorption, separation, exchange, and catalysis due to their open framework structure, rich internal channels, large number of micropores (pores smaller than 2 nm) and/or mesopores (pores in range of 2–50 nm), and modifiable atoms inside and outside the framework. They play an important role in sustainable energy and environmental applications, especially in refining processes, petrochemical synthesis, exhaust gas treatment of automobiles, desulfurization and denitrification of flue gas, etc.

This Special Issue aims to cover new mesoporous and microporous materials that play a role in the sustainable development of energy and environment, especially new structures and new technologies with potential industrial applications.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, communications, and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • The synthesis and physicochemical characterization of mesoporous and microporous materials, including new strategies to form new structures, adjust distribution of active sites, in situ spectroscopic and microscopic technologies, etc.;
  • Mesoporous and microporous materials applied in green catalytic processes to improve energy utilization efficiency and reduce environmental pollution, including plastic degradation and reuse, biomass catalytic conversion, CO2-related adsorption and conversion, hydrogen energy storage, etc.

Dr. Jingui Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • zeolites
  • mesoporous materials
  • microporous materials
  • MOFs
  • COFs
  • 2D materials
  • heterocatalysis
  • green catalysis
  • plastic recycling
  • hydrogen energy
  • CO2 capture and conversion
  • biomass conversion

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3053 KiB  
Article
Interaction of a Porphyrin Aluminum Metal–Organic Framework with Volatile Organic Sulfur Compound Diethyl Sulfide Studied via In Situ and Ex Situ Experiments and DFT Computations
by Shaheed Ullah, Michael L. McKee and Alexander Samokhvalov
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(22), 2916; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13222916 - 8 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1333
Abstract
The study presents complementary experiments and quantum chemical DFT computations to reveal the molecular-level interactions of an advanced nanomaterial, porphyrin aluminum metal–organic framework (compound 2), with the volatile organic sulfur compound diethyl sulfide (DES). First, the intermolecular host–guest interactions during the sorption [...] Read more.
The study presents complementary experiments and quantum chemical DFT computations to reveal the molecular-level interactions of an advanced nanomaterial, porphyrin aluminum metal–organic framework (compound 2), with the volatile organic sulfur compound diethyl sulfide (DES). First, the intermolecular host–guest interactions during the sorption of DES were explored under dynamic conditions, using the vapor of DES in flowing air. The in situ time-dependent ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in a controlled atmosphere was significantly improved though the use of a new facilely built spectroscopic mini-chamber. The binding site of DES in compound 2 involves the μ(O–H) and COO- groups of the linker of the sorbent. Further, the chemical kinetics of the sorption of DES was investigated, and it follows the Langmuir adsorption kinetic model. That is, depending on the time interval, the process obeys either the pseudo-first- or pseudo-second-order rate law. For the Langmuir adsorption of the pseudo-first order, the rate constant is robs = 0.165 ± 0.017 min−1. Next, the interaction of compound 2 with the saturated vapor of DES yields the adsorption complex compound 3 [Al-MOF-TCPPH2]2(DES)7. The adsorbed amount of DES is very large at 36.5 wt.% or 365 mg/g sorbent, one of the highest values reported on any sorbent. The molecular modes of bonding of DES in the complex were investigated through quantum chemical DFT computations. The adsorption complex was facilely regenerated by gentle heating. The advanced functional material in this work has significant potential in the environmental remediation of diethyl sulfide and related volatile organic sulfur compounds in air, and it is an interesting target of mechanistic studies of sorption. Full article
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11 pages, 3104 KiB  
Article
MOF-Derived CoSe2@NiFeOOH Arrays for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction
by Yulong Tang, Jiangning Li, Zhiyi Lu, Yunan Wang, Kai Tao and Yichao Lin
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(19), 2621; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13192621 - 22 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1718
Abstract
Water electrolysis is a compelling method for the production of environmentally friendly hydrogen, minimizing carbon emissions. The electrolysis of water heavily relies on an effective and steady oxygen evolution reaction (OER) taking place at the anode. Herein, we introduce a highly promising catalyst [...] Read more.
Water electrolysis is a compelling method for the production of environmentally friendly hydrogen, minimizing carbon emissions. The electrolysis of water heavily relies on an effective and steady oxygen evolution reaction (OER) taking place at the anode. Herein, we introduce a highly promising catalyst for OER called CoSe2@NiFeOOH arrays, which are supported on nickel foam. This catalyst, referred to as CoSe2@NiFeOOH/NF, is fabricated through a two-step process involving the selenidation of a Co-based porous metal organic framework and subsequent electrochemical deposition on nickel foam. The CoSe2@NiFeOOH/NF catalyst demonstrates outstanding activity for the OER in an alkaline electrolyte. It exhibits a low overpotential (η) of 254 mV at 100 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 73 mV dec−1, and excellent high stability. The good performance of CoSe2@NiFeOOH/NF can be attributed to the combination of the high conductivity of the inner layer and the synergistic effect between CoSe2 and NiFeOOH. This study offers an effective method for the fabrication of highly efficient catalysts for an OER. Full article
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12 pages, 3433 KiB  
Article
Nano-Cavities within Nano-Zeolites: The Influencing Factors of the Fabricating Process on Their Catalytic Activities
by Kairui Fu, Geng Li, Fulin Xu, Tiantong Dai, Wen Su, Hao Wang, Tianduo Li, Yunan Wang and Jingui Wang
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1923; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13131923 - 23 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1631
Abstract
Titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) is a milestone heterogeneous catalyst with single-atom tetrahedral titanium incorporated into silica framework for green oxidation reactions. Although TS-1 catalysts have been industrialized, the strategy of direct hydrothermal synthesis usually produces catalysts with low catalytic activities, which has still puzzled [...] Read more.
Titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) is a milestone heterogeneous catalyst with single-atom tetrahedral titanium incorporated into silica framework for green oxidation reactions. Although TS-1 catalysts have been industrialized, the strategy of direct hydrothermal synthesis usually produces catalysts with low catalytic activities, which has still puzzled academic and industrial scientists. Post-treatment processes were widely chosen and were proven to be an essential process for the stable production of the high-activity zeolites with hollow structures. However, the reasons why post-treatment processes could improve catalytic activity are still not clear enough. Here, high-performance hollow TS-1 zeolites with nano-sized crystals and nano-sized cavities were synthesized via post-treatment of direct-synthesis nano-sized TS-1 zeolites. The influencing factors of the fabricating processes on their catalytic activities were investigated in detail, including the content of alkali metal ions, the state of titanium centers, hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties, and accessibility of micropores. The post-treatment processes could effectively solve these adverse effects to improve catalytic activity and to stabilize production. These findings contribute to the stable preparation of high-performance TS-1 catalysts in both factories and laboratories. Full article
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Review

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21 pages, 5655 KiB  
Review
Progress of Nonmetallic Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions
by Zhongmei Che, Yanan Yuan, Jianxin Qin, Peixuan Li, Yulei Chen, Yue Wu, Meng Ding, Fei Zhang, Min Cui, Yingshu Guo and Shuai Wang
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1945; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13131945 - 26 Jun 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1877
Abstract
As a key role in hindering the large-scale application of fuel cells, oxygen reduction reaction has always been a hot issue and nodus. Aiming to explore state-of-art electrocatalysts, this paper reviews the latest development of nonmetallic catalysts in oxygen reduction reactions, including single [...] Read more.
As a key role in hindering the large-scale application of fuel cells, oxygen reduction reaction has always been a hot issue and nodus. Aiming to explore state-of-art electrocatalysts, this paper reviews the latest development of nonmetallic catalysts in oxygen reduction reactions, including single atoms doped with carbon materials such as N, B, P or S and multi-doped carbon materials. Afterward, the remaining challenges and research directions of carbon-based nonmetallic catalysts are prospected. Full article
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