Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.6
4.0
Journals
Catalysts
Special Issues
Microporous and Mesoporous Materials for Catalytic Applications, 2nd Edition
share announcement

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials for Catalytic Applications, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Catalytic Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 4573

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Narendra Kumar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry and Reaction Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Henriksgatan 2, FI-20500 Turku, Finland
Interests: heterogeneous catalysis; catalyst synthesis; nanoporous materials; catalyst characterization; zeolite catalysis; refinery processes; hydrocarbon conversion; reaction mechanisms; biomass transformations; environmental catalysis; exhaust emission control; water purification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue, entitled “Microporous and Mesoporous Materials for Catalytic Applications”, following its great success among academic and industrial researchers around the globe.

Microporous and mesoporous materials, due to their unique properties (uniform pores, channel systems, shape selectivity and high thermal stability), have found applications as catalytic materials in several oil refinery processes, as well as in the production of petrochemicals, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, drug molecules and specialty chemicals. Furthermore, possibilities to design active catalytic metal sites with a well-defined size, dispersion and location in microporous and mesoporous materials have attracted the interest of researchers in academia and industry. The Brønsted and Lewis acid sites in microporous and mesoporous materials can be varied by changing the silica-to-alumina ratio, which provides possibilities to tailor the acid sites with given amounts and strengths. After deactivation in reactions, metal-modified and acidic microporous and mesoporous materials are easily regenerated and reused, thus making them highly efficient and cost-effective catalytic materials.

Further, other new metal-modified microporous and mesoporous materials are continuously being developed for applications in the production of environmentally friendly chemicals, green fuel components, drug molecules and pharmaceuticals. Taking into consideration climate change mitigation, the development of green process technology and the sustainable development of our society, microporous and mesoporous materials materials are going to be even more relevant in the future for the production of renewable energy, novel drug molecules, fine chemicals, medicinal products and specialty chemicals.

Dr. Narendra Kumar
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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

  • microporous materials
  • mesoporous materials
  • catalysts
  • synthesis
  • catalysis
  • characterization
  • chemicals
  • fuels

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 1591 KB  
Article
Role of Cation Nature in FAU Zeolite in Both Liquid-Phase and Gas-Phase Adsorption
by Baylar Zarbaliyev, Nizami Israfilov, Shabnam Feyziyeva, Gaëtan Lutzweiler, Narmina Guliyeva and Benoît Louis
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080734 - 1 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2293
Abstract
This study focuses on the exchange of mono- and divalent metal cations in FAU-type zeolite and their behavior in gas-phase CO2 adsorption measurements and liquid-phase methylene blue (MB) adsorption in the absence of oxidizing agents under dark conditions. Firstly, zeolites exchanged with [...] Read more.
This study focuses on the exchange of mono- and divalent metal cations in FAU-type zeolite and their behavior in gas-phase CO2 adsorption measurements and liquid-phase methylene blue (MB) adsorption in the absence of oxidizing agents under dark conditions. Firstly, zeolites exchanged with different cations were characterized by several techniques, such as XRD, SEM, XRF, XPS, and N2 adsorption–desorption, to reveal the impact of the cations on the zeolite texture and structure. The adsorption studies revealed a positive effect of cation exchange on the adsorption capacity of the zeolite, particularly for silver-loaded FAU zeolite. In liquid-phase experiments, Ag-Y zeolite also demonstrated the highest MB removal, with a value of 79 mg/g. Kinetic studies highlighted that Ag-Y could reach the MB adsorption equilibrium within 1 h, with its highest rate of adsorption occurring during the first 5 min. In gas-phase adsorption studies, the highest CO2 adsorption capacity was also achieved over Ag-Y, yielding 10.4 µmol/m2 of CO2 captured. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microporous and Mesoporous Materials for Catalytic Applications, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

45 pages, 3803 KB  
Review
Hydrophobic Surface Modification of Microporous and Mesoporous Titanosilicates and Its Impact on Catalytic Performance in Epoxidation Reactions: A Review
by Ana Belen Lozada, Ayleen Villacrés, Diana Endara, Ernesto de la Torre, Eric M. Gaigneaux and Lucia E. Manangon-Perugachi
Catalysts 2026, 16(4), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16040299 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 456
Abstract
Titanosilicates are Lewis acid catalysts widely applied in liquid-phase olefin epoxidation; however, in the presence of water, their performance is often limited by structural instability, active-site deactivation, and competing side reactions. This review critically examines hydrophobization strategies—based on controlled reduction in silanol groups [...] Read more.
Titanosilicates are Lewis acid catalysts widely applied in liquid-phase olefin epoxidation; however, in the presence of water, their performance is often limited by structural instability, active-site deactivation, and competing side reactions. This review critically examines hydrophobization strategies—based on controlled reduction in silanol groups or incorporation of organic functionalities—and discusses the experimental approaches used to evaluate surface hydrophobicity, including water adsorption measurements, infrared spectroscopy of silanols, contact angle analysis, and complementary spectroscopic methods. Although direct quantitative comparison among studies is hindered by differences in reaction systems and the lack of standardized catalytic metrics, consistent trends emerge. Lower silanol densities are generally associated with improved preservation of isolated tetrahedral Ti (IV) sites, higher H2O2 utilization efficiency, and reduced secondary epoxide ring-opening, leading to enhanced activity and selectivity under comparable conditions. These improvements are attributed to decreased local water activity, suppression of non-productive oxidant decomposition, and stabilization of Ti-peroxo intermediates responsible for direct epoxidation. Incorporation of organic groups produces a similar beneficial effect when introduced in moderate amounts, increasing surface hydrophobicity without significantly perturbing Ti coordination. However, beyond an optimal loading, catalytic performance declines due to pore blockage, diffusion limitations, and partial masking of active sites, revealing a threshold behavior. Fluoride also plays a dual role: when used during synthesis, it influences the insertion and distribution of framework Ti, whereas as a post-treatment, it primarily regulates silanol density and surface polarity while preserving active sites. Finally, hydrophobicity cannot be considered independently, as its impact depends on the solvent, oxidant, olefin nature, and active-site location, which collectively govern activity, selectivity, and catalyst stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microporous and Mesoporous Materials for Catalytic Applications, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

22 pages, 1960 KB  
Review
Micro- and Mesoporous Silica-Based Materials as Support Catalysts in Reforming Reactions
by Chiara Nunnari, Antonio Fotia, Angela Malara, Anastasia Macario and Patrizia Frontera
Catalysts 2026, 16(3), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16030218 - 1 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 962
Abstract
Reforming processes are key technologies for the production of hydrogen and synthesis gas from hydrocarbon feedstocks, with steam reforming and dry reforming being the most extensively studied routes. Steam reforming remains the dominant industrial process due to its high efficiency and economic viability; [...] Read more.
Reforming processes are key technologies for the production of hydrogen and synthesis gas from hydrocarbon feedstocks, with steam reforming and dry reforming being the most extensively studied routes. Steam reforming remains the dominant industrial process due to its high efficiency and economic viability; however, its associated CO2 emissions raise environmental concerns, partially mitigated through an integration with carbon capture and storage technologies. Dry reforming has emerged as an attractive alternative, although it requires high operating temperatures and suffers from catalyst deactivation. Catalyst design is therefore critical for improving process efficiency and stability. Supported metal catalysts, particularly Ni-based systems, are widely employed, with the support material playing a decisive role in metal dispersion, resistance to sintering and coking, and reaction selectivity. Microporous and mesoporous silica-based materials, including zeolites and ordered mesoporous silicas, offer tunable structural and surface properties that enhance catalytic performance. The novelty of this work lies in its holistic approach to reforming catalysis, where the catalytic performance is not discussed solely in terms of active metals, but is systematically correlated with the surface properties, chemical composition, and structural features of silica-based supports. Moreover, this study expands the perspective to alternative and less-explored feedstocks. By considering multiple fuels and support types, the study provides new design guidelines for developing more efficient and sustainable reforming catalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microporous and Mesoporous Materials for Catalytic Applications, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop