From Performance to Mechanism: Operando Insights in Environmental Catalysis
A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Catalysis".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 180
Editors
Interests: heterogeneous catalysis; environmental catalysis; reaction kinetics; mechanisms of catalytic reactions; wastewater treatment; CO2 utilization; process intensification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: photocatalysis; heterogeneous catalysis; advanced oxidation processes; visible-light-driven photocatalysts; photocatalysis for water purification; photocatalysts based on TiO2; preparation and characterization of catalysts and materials; water treatment by advanced oxidation processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Environmental catalysis is at a critical transition point, where traditional performance-driven metrics are no longer sufficient to guide catalyst design. Recent advances in spectroscopy, electrochemistry and materials science now enable direct insight into charge transfer, reactive intermediates and active-site dynamics during catalytic operation in complex environmental systems.
This Special Issue aims to highlight the fundamental physicochemical principles governing catalytic reactions relevant to environmental applications. We particularly encourage contributions that elucidate reaction pathways, identify active species and clarify the roles of catalyst structure, surface states and charge–carrier dynamics in heterogeneous catalytic, photocatalytic, electrochemical and light-assisted systems across gas–solid and liquid–solid interfaces.
Topics of interest include operando and in situ characterization, structure-function relationships, interfacial charge–transfer processes and the integration of catalytic materials with advanced reactor concepts that enable mechanistic interrogation under working conditions. Contributions combining experimental and theoretical approaches, as well as time-resolved and multimodal techniques, are especially welcome.
Submissions focused solely on catalytic performance or pollutant removal efficiency, without clear mechanistic insight, are considered outside the scope of this Special Issue.
By focusing on the underlying reaction chemistry and interfacial processes that govern catalytic transformations in environmental systems, this Special Issue aims to provide a forward-looking perspective supporting the rational design of next-generation catalytic materials and processes.
We look forward to your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Albin Pintar
Dr. Gregor Žerjav
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- operando catalysis
- in situ characterization
- time-resolved spectroscopy
- environmental catalysis
- photocatalysis
- advanced oxidation processes (AOPs)
- charge transfer mechanisms
- reactive intermediates
- structure-function relationships
- interfacial processes
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