Smart Catalysis: Evolution, Present State and Future Horizons
A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Catalytic Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 1
Special Issue Editor
Interests: heterogeneous photocatalysis for the purification of water from organic dyes and pharmaceutical drugs; synthesis and characterization of pure and modified semiconductor catalysts (particles, powders, films); tribocatalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Smart catalysis represents a rapidly advancing field at the intersection of materials science, nanotechnology, and chemical engineering, offering new possibilities for efficient, selective, and adaptive chemical transformations. Building on the evolution from conventional homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, smart catalytic systems incorporate engineered active sites, stimulus-responsive behavior, and multifunctional architectures capable of operating under dynamic conditions. Recent progress has been driven by the development of nanostructured materials, defect engineering, and hybrid organic–inorganic interfaces, and the integration of computational modeling and machine learning for catalyst design and mechanism prediction. Today, smart catalysis plays a pivotal role in energy conversion, environmental remediation, and sustainable chemical production, with applications ranging from photocatalytic water splitting to CO2 reduction and advanced oxidation processes. Looking ahead, future breakthroughs are expected to include autonomous self-regulating catalysts, sensor-integrated catalytic platforms, and programmable materials that adapt to real-time reaction environments. As global challenges related to energy, climate, and resource efficiency intensify, smart catalysis offers a promising pathway toward cleaner, more sustainable, and highly optimized chemical technologies.
If you would like to submit papers to this Special Issue or have any questions, please contact the in-house editor, Ms. Rita Lin (rita.lin@mdpi.com).
Dr. Nina Kaneva
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- ecology design
- smart catalysts
- evolution
- future horizons
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