Early-Career Researchers in Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2023) | Viewed by 3616

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Interests: nanoscale physics (photosemiconductors, plasmonics); flame spray pyrolysis (FSP): preparation of metal-oxide, plasmonic, metallic, nanoheterostructures (Z-scheme nano-photocatalysts, nanocluster-nanoparticle hybrids); catalysis using nanomaterials; photocatalysis; H2 production; H2O splitting; CO2–photoreduction to liquid fuels; environmental technology using nanohybrids (arsenic remediation, nanoantioxidants, plasmonic heating, oxidative catalysis, environmental nanotoxicity); electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (parallel-mode EPR, perpendicular-mode EPR high-temperature EPR, spin dynamics, EPR of nanomagnetic phases)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Interests: chemistry of nanomaterials; semiconductors; photocatalysis; H2 production; CO2–photoreduction; nanohybrid synthesis and catalytic applications; heterostructure synthesis by flame spray pyrolysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue on “Early-Career Researchers in Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology” aims to encourage early-career researchers to  present their recent research in  Nanoscience and Nanotechnology with emphasis on environmentally relevant science and technology.

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

  • Nanomaterials for energy technologies;
  • Catalysis by nanomaterials for environmental technologies;
  • Photocatalysis for degradation of organics;
  • Artificial photosynthesis, CO2 reduction to fuels;
  • CO2 remediation by nanomaterials;
  • Electrocatalysis by nanomaterials for environmental technologies;
  • Nanosensors for environmental substrates including gas, liquid, or particle sensing;
  • Nanomaterials for environmental remediation, adsorption, transformation, sequestration of pollutants;
  • Lifecycle assessment of nanomaterials, environmental impact.

To be considered for this special issue, the corresponding authors had to have received their doctoral degree within the last 15 years. We would very much appreciate it if you could let us know your interest in contributing to the paper at your earliest convenience. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Yiannis Deligiannakis
Dr. Maria Solakidou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • nanocatalysts
  • environmental remediation
  • nanoenergy
  • photocatalysis
  • CO2 remediation
  • nanosensors
  • LCA nanomaterials

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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20 pages, 2568 KiB  
Article
Pd-Based Bimetallic Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction in 0.1 M KOH Solution
by Georgios Bampos and Symeon Bebelis
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(6), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14060500 - 11 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1045
Abstract
A series of carbon black-supported 7.5 wt.% Pd-2.5 wt.% M/C (M: Ag, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Ru, Sn, Zn) electrocatalysts, synthesized via the wet impregnation method, and reduced at 300 °C, were compared in terms of their hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) activity [...] Read more.
A series of carbon black-supported 7.5 wt.% Pd-2.5 wt.% M/C (M: Ag, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Ru, Sn, Zn) electrocatalysts, synthesized via the wet impregnation method, and reduced at 300 °C, were compared in terms of their hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) activity in a 0.1 M KOH solution using the thin-film rotating-disk electrode technique. Moreover, 10 wt.% Pd/C and 10 wt.% Pt/C electrocatalysts were prepared in the same manner and used as references. The 7.5 wt.% Pd-2.5 wt.% Ni/C electrocatalyst exhibited the highest HOR activity among the Pd-based electrocatalysts, although it was lower than that of the 10 wt.% Pt/C. Its activity was also found to be higher than that of Pd-Ni electrocatalysts of the same total metal loading (10 wt.%) and reduction temperature (300 °C) but of different Pd to Ni atomic ratio. It was also higher than that of 7.5 wt.% Pd-2.5 wt.% Ni/C electrocatalysts that were reduced at temperatures other than 300 °C. The superior activity of this electrocatalyst was attributed to an optimum value of the hydrogen binding energy of Pd, which was induced by the presence of Ni (electronic effect), as well as to the oxophilic character of Ni, which favors adsorption on the Ni surface of hydroxyl species that readily react with adsorbed hydrogen atoms on neighboring Pd sites in the rate-determining step. Full article
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22 pages, 6250 KiB  
Article
Mesoporous Dual-Semiconductor ZnS/CdS Nanocomposites as Efficient Visible Light Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Generation
by Ioannis Vamvasakis, Evangelos K. Andreou and Gerasimos S. Armatas
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(17), 2426; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13172426 - 26 Aug 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1980
Abstract
The development of functional catalysts for the photogeneration of hydrogen (H2) via water-splitting is crucial in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. To that end, metal-sulfide semiconductors, such as CdS and ZnS, can play a significant role in the process due [...] Read more.
The development of functional catalysts for the photogeneration of hydrogen (H2) via water-splitting is crucial in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. To that end, metal-sulfide semiconductors, such as CdS and ZnS, can play a significant role in the process due to their interesting optoelectronic and catalytic properties. However, inefficient charge-carrier dissociation and poor photochemical stability remain significant limitations to photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, dual-semiconductor nanocomposites of ZnS/CdS nanocrystal assemblies (NCAs) are developed as efficient visible light photocatalysts for H2 generation. The resultant materials, synthesized via a polymer-templated self-polymerization method, comprise a unique combination of ~5–7 nm-sized metal-sulfide nanoparticles that are interlinked to form a 3D open-pore structure with large internal surface area (up to 285 m2 g−1) and uniform pores (circa 6–7 nm). By adjusting the ratio of constituent nanoparticles, the optimized ZnS/CdS catalyst with 50 wt.% ZnS content demonstrates a remarkable stability and visible light H2-evolution activity (~29 mmol g−1 h−1 mass activity) with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 60% at 420 nm. Photocatalytic evaluation experiments combined with electrochemical and spectroscopic studies suggest that the superior photocatalytic performance of these materials stems from the accessible 3D open-pore structure and the efficient defect-mediated charge transfer mechanism at the ZnS/CdS nanointerfaces. Overall, this work provides a new perspective for designing functional and stable photocatalytic materials for sustainable H2 production. Full article
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